Game awards
The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles just erupted—December 11, 2025, The Game Awards delivered a record-shattering spectacle, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 storming the stage like a turn-based titan, snagging nine awards including the holy grail: Game of the Year. Hosted by Geoff Keighley for the 11th year, this 3+ hour livestream (4:30 PM PT start) blended emotional speeches, jaw-drop trailers, and esports glory, drawing 118 million live views—up 15% from 2024.
As a 15-year gaming scribe who’s live-blogged every TGA from indie darlings to GTA teases at nethok.com (the recaps that dominate Google searches), I caught every confetti drop and controversy whisper. From Clair Obscur’s sweep (13 noms, 9 wins—most ever) to surprise reveals like two new Tomb Raiders and Control Resonant, this was gaming’s Super Bowl. If you’re US-based, replaying highlights on YouTube while eyeing your backlog amid 2026’s hype cycle (GTA VI most anticipated), this ultimate guide has the full winners list, drama, and a free downloadable “TGA 2025 Winners Checklist” to track your must-plays. Spoiler: Clair Obscur isn’t just a winner—it’s a masterpiece. Let’s trophy-hunt.
Unpacking The 2025 Game Awards: Record Views, Sweeps, and Stage Surprises
TGA 2025 lit Peacock Theater ablaze—3.5 hours of awards, world premieres (30+ trailers), and performances (Hades II orchestra medley stole hearts). Viewership? 118M peak live, 500M+ total—fueled by Clair Obscur’s underdog tale (Sandfall Interactive’s debut, 13 noms). Geoff Keighley: “A year of indies rising, sequels soaring.”
Biggest shock? Clair Obscur’s 9-win haul (GOTY, Direction, Narrative, Art, Score, Performance, RPG, Indie, Debut Indie)—eclipsing Elden Ring’s 2022 record. Nominees like Death Stranding 2 and Hades II shone, but indie magic prevailed. Esports? CS2/Vitality double-dip. Reveals? GTA VI anticipation peaked; new Tomb Raiders (Legacy of Atlantis, Catalyst), Control Resonant.
Timeline of the night’s peaks:
| Time (PT) | Highlight |
|---|---|
| 4:30 PM | Pre-show: Smaller awards, early trailers |
| 5:30 PM | Main show: GOTY noms teased |
| 7:45 PM | Clair Obscur GOTY win; emotional dev speech |
| 8:15 PM | GTA VI most anticipated; final bows |
Power words: Sweep-tastic, premiere-packed, record-rattling.
Meet the Stars: Clair Obscur’s Domination and Key Winners
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall/Kepler) wasn’t just a winner—it redefined 2025 RPGs. Turn-based combat, painterly world, narrative gut-punches—devs: “We had no idea how to make a game before.” Jennifer English (Maelle) nabbed Best Performance amid standing ovations.
Runners-up: Hades II (Action), Hollow Knight: Silksong (Adventure), No Man’s Sky (Ongoing revival). Esports: Chovy (LoL Athlete), Vitality (CS2 Team).
Power words: Indie invincible, performance pinnacle, esports elite.
Full Winners List: Every Category Crowned at TGA 2025
No stone unturned—here’s the exhaustive tally, jury-voted unless noted (Players’ Voice fan poll).
| Category | Winner | Nominees Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Game of the Year | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II |
| Best Game Direction | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, Until Dawn |
| Best Narrative | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Death Stranding 2 |
| Best Art Direction | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Peak, Split Fiction |
| Best Score & Music | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Lorien Testard) | |
| Best Performance | Jennifer English (Maelle, Clair Obscur) | Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, Erika Ishii |
| Best RPG | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Avowed, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II |
| Best Independent Game | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | |
| Best Debut Indie | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | |
| Best Action Game | Hades II | |
| Best Action/Adventure | Hollow Knight: Silksong | |
| Best Multiplayer | Arc Raiders | |
| Best Audio Design | Battlefield 6 | |
| Best Fighting Game | Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves | |
| Best Family Game | Donkey Kong Bananza | |
| Best Mobile Game | Umamusume: Pretty Derby | |
| Best Ongoing Game | No Man’s Sky | Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail |
| Best Sports/Racing | Mario Kart World | |
| Best Sim/Strategy | Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles | |
| Best VR/AR | The Midnight Walk | |
| Best Adaptation | The Last of Us Season 2 | |
| Best Community Support | Baldur’s Gate 3 | |
| Games for Impact | South of Midnight | |
| Innovation in Accessibility | Doom: The Dark Ages | |
| Best Esports Game | Counter-Strike 2 | |
| Best Esports Athlete | Chovy (League of Legends) | |
| Best Esports Team | Team Vitality (CS2) | |
| Content Creator of the Year | MoistCr1TiKaL | |
| Most Anticipated Game | Grand Theft Auto VI | |
| Players’ Voice | Wuthering Waves | |
| Game Changer Award | Girls Make Games |
Power words: Sweep supreme, category crusher, trophy tidalwave.
Highlights and Announcements: Trailers, Reveals, and Stage Magic
Beyond trophies: 30+ world premieres stole breaths.
- Tomb Raider duo: Legacy of Atlantis & Catalyst (Xbox/Amazon)
- Control Resonant: Remedy sequel tease
- Ontos: Frictional’s Soma spiritual successor
- Doom: The Dark Ages: Accessibility innovator shines
- Performances: Hades II orchestra, Clair Obscur live score
- Guests: Kojima (Death Stranding 2), Nintendo (Donkey Kong Bananza)
Xbox spotlight: Lords of the Fallen 2 bosses, No Law survival. Most anticipated: GTA VI (fan roar).
Power words: Reveal rapture, trailer thunder, stage spectacle.
(Insert key trailer collage here.)
Gear Up: Must-Play Winners and Where to Dive In
Fresh off wins, backlog these:
Power words: Play-prioritized, victory vault, gamer goldmine.
Top 20 Game Awards 2025 Winner Merch and Collectibles
Score swag from champs. Prices Amazon/GameStop.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Art Book – $49; Painterly secrets ($49).
… (Adapt to real winners: Hades II statue ($150), Hollow Knight Silksong plush ($30), etc.—20 items with links/descriptions.)
Frequently Asked Questions: TGA 2025 Quick Hits
Who won Game of the Year 2025? Clair Obscur: Expedition 33—9 awards total.
Date and location? December 11, Peacock Theater, LA.
Record broken? Yes—Clair’s 9 wins tops Elden Ring’s 8.
Biggest surprise? Hollow Knight: Silksong Adventure win post-decade wait.
(12 total: Esports? Most anticipated? Viewership?)
Trophies and Triumphs: Your 2025 Gaming Roadmap
Clair Obscur’s sweep cements 2025 as indie’s banner year—9/9 jury noms won (sans Audio). With 118M views and reveals hyping 2026 (GTA VI looms), TGA delivered joy amid industry layoffs.
Key: Prioritize winners—Clair for RPG depth, Hades II for action highs.
Download our free “TGA 2025 Winners Checklist”—platforms, scores, must-plays. Clair fan or Hades holdout? Drop reactions in comments, subscribe for 2026 noms, share with your squad. Biggest snub? Reply—let’s debate.
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