Organisers of the 25th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards have confirmed this year’s list of finalists.
The awards celebrate the achievements of game developers across a diverse mix of genres and styles, ranging from AAA productions to groundbreaking indie creations.
This year, Astro Bot by Team Asobi and Black Myth: Wukong by Game Science lead the pack with seven nominations each. Both titles are also vying for the coveted Game of the Year award alongside Balatro, Helldivers 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio.
Critical darling Animal Well has received an impressive five nominations, including a well-deserved nod for the Innovation Award.
Elsewhere, the Best Visual Art award recognises titles including Metaphor: ReFantazio and Neva, while the Best Debut award spotlights newcomers such as Pacific Drive and my personal Game of the Year, 1000xRESIST.
In addition to the categories listed below, the Audience Award gives the public the opportunity to vote for their favourite game of last year. You can find the ballot here.
This year’s awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco during the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), held from March 17–21.
2025 Game Developers Choice Awards 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)
The Game Developers Choice Awards will be streamed live on the official GDC Twitch channel.
