Balatro picks up the top prize at the 2025 Game Developers Choice Awards.
Balatro was the big winner at the 25th annual GDC Awards. The roguelike deck builder developed by LocalThunk secured four awards, including Game of the Year. It also took home the Best Debut, Innovation Award, and Best Design awards, cementing its status as the breakout hit of last year.
Another notable winner was Team Asobi’s Astro Bot, which was recognised in two categories, winning Best Audio and Best Technology.
Elsewhere, Black Myth: Wukong won Best Visual Art for its stunning interpretation of Chinese mythology, while Metaphor: ReFantazio snagged the award for Best Narrative.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure may not have met Square Enix’s commercial expectations, but its impact on players was acknowledged with the Social Impact Award.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – also published by Square Enix – captured the popular vote by winning this year’s Audience Award.
Beyond the games, two influential industry figures were honoured. Sam Lake received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to immersive storytelling in titles like Max Payne, Alan Wake, and Control. Meanwhile, Lucas Pope, the brilliant mind behind Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, was this year’s recipient of the Pioneer Award.
Here’s a full list of 2025 GDC Award winners and nominees.
2025 GDC Awards: Winners and Nominees
Best Audio
- Animal Well (Billy Basso / Bigmode)
- Astro Bot (Team ASOBI / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (Ninja Theory / Xbox Game Studios)
Best Debut
- 1000xRESIST (Sunset Visitor / Fellow Traveller)
- Animal Well (Billy Basso / Bigmode)
- Balatro (LocalThunk / Playstack)
- Pacific Drive (Ironwood Studios / Kepler Interactive)
- Tiny Glade (Pounce Light)
Best Design
- Animal Well (Billy Basso / Bigmode)
- Astro Bot (Team ASOBI / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Balatro (LocalThunk / Playstack)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Lorelai and the Laser Eyes (Simogo / Annapurna Interactive)
Innovation Award
- Animal Well (Billy Basso / Bigmode)
- Astro Bot (Team ASOBI / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Balatro (LocalThunk / Playstack)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- UFO 50 (Mossmouth)
Best Narrative
- 1000xRESIST (Sunset Visitor / Fellow Traveller)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio / SEGA)
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (ATLUS / SEGA / Studio Zero)
- Mouthwashing (Wrong Organ / Critical Reflex)
Best Technology
- Astro Bot (Team ASOBI / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios / PlayStation Publishing LLC)
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (Ninja Theory / Xbox Game Studios)
- Tiny Glade (Pounce Light)
Best Visual Art
- Animal Well (Billy Basso / Bigmode)
- Astro Bot (Team ASOBI / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (ATLUS / SEGA / Studio Zero)
- Neva (Nomada Studio / Devolver Digital)
Social Impact
- 1000xRESIST (Sunset Visitor / Fellow Traveller)
- Astro Bot (Team ASOBI / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Frostpunk 2 (11 bit studios)
- Life is Strange: Double Exposure (Deck Nine Games / Square Enix)
- Neva (Nomada Studio / Devolver Digital)
Game of the Year
- Astro Bot (Team ASOBI / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Balatro (LocalThunk / Playstack)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios / PlayStation Publishing LLC)
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (ATLUS / SEGA / Studio Zero)
Congratulations to every studio and developer recognised at this year’s GDC awards from the Thumbsticks team.
