Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is leading this year’s Game Awards race with an impressive 12 nominations.

The acclaimed role-playing game is competing for Game of the Year and has also secured three spots in the Best Performance category.

Rival titles for the top honor include Death Stranding 2, Nintendo’s platformer Donkey Kong Bananza, indie standouts Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades 2, and the medieval epic Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

All nominees will face off on 11 December in Los Angeles, California, at what is considered the world’s most-watched video-game awards ceremony. In 2024, the event drew 154 million livestreams, with Astro Bot taking home the Game of the Year trophy.

What are the Game Awards?

Often described as the “Oscars of gaming,” the annual show, hosted by founder Geoff Keighley, spans nearly three hours and blends award presentations with musical acts, celebrity appearances, and—and perhaps most importantly for fans—major game reveals.

Last year’s show featured debut trailers for The Witcher 4, Elden Ring: Nightreign, and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophetfrom The Last of Us studio Naughty Dog.

Game of the Year contenders

Developed by a core team of around 30 people at Sandfall Interactive in Montpellier, France, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33has captivated critics with its story, combat, and standout performances.

Actors Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, and Jennifer English—all featured in the game—are nominated for Best Performance. The title is also in the running for Best Narrative and Best Independent Game, though its indie status may spark debate given its backing by global support studios and publisher Kepler Interactive.

Sony secured strong representation as well, with two PlayStation-exclusive titles earning eight nominations each. Death Stranding 2, directed by Hideo Kojima, is competing for Best Narrative, although none of its star-studded cast—such as Norman Reedus—received acting nods. Ghost of Yōtei, another PS5 exclusive, matched its nomination count, with lead actress Erika Ishii up for a performance award.

Indie giants Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades 2, both sequels to massively successful hits, also made the Game of the Year list. Silksong—nicknamed the “GTA 6 of indie games” for its lengthy development and intense anticipation—overwhelmed several online stores at launch.

Rounding out the top category are Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza, a marquee title for the Switch 2, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

Notably, Split Fiction, the highly anticipated follow-up to It Takes Two from Hazelight Studio, did not receive a nomination. The critically praised mystery game Blue Prince earned recognition only in the Best Independent Game category.

Industry concerns and criticism

The Game Awards has faced scrutiny over its emphasis on announcements over winners, with some acceptance speeches cut short and many categories left without on-stage presentations.

While the 2024 event attempted to address some of these concerns, industry professionals continue to push for greater acknowledgment of widespread layoffs affecting game developers.

This year also marks the quiet discontinuation of the Future Class initiative—launched in 2020 to spotlight emerging talent—which had faced criticism from former participants who accused the program of tokenism and a lack of long-term support.

In 2023, the awards introduced a new Game Changer Award, presented to Amir Satvat for his efforts to assist laid-off developers seeking employment.

BBC Newsbeat has requested comment from the event organizers.
A full list of nominees can be found on The Game Awards’ official website.