GDC Awards 2025 Crowns the Best Games of the Year
March 20, 2025, 11:59 AM
Last night in San Francisco, the 2025 Game Developers Choice Awards (GDC Awards) celebrated the best games of the past year. The biggest winner of the night was Balatro, the roguelike deck-builder, which took home four awards—including Game of the Year.
Other notable winners included Astro Bot (Best Audio, Best Technology), Black Myth: Wukong (Best Visual Art), and Metaphor: ReFantazio (Best Narrative). Below is the full list of winners and nominees.
Game of the Year:
- Astro Bot;
- Balatro — winner;
- Black Myth: Wukong;
- Helldivers 2;
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth;
- Metaphor: ReFantazio;
- Honorable Mentions: Animal Well, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Satisfactory, UFO 50.
Best Audio:
- Animal Well;
- Astro Bot — winner;
- Black Myth: Wukong;
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth;
- Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2;
- Honorable Mentions: Balatro, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Neva, Silent Hill 2.
Best Debut:
- 1000xRESIST;
- Animal Well;
- Balatro — winner;
- Pacific Drive;
- Tiny Glade;
- Honorable Mentions: Manor Lord, Mullet Madjack, The Plucky Squire, Tiny Glade.
Best Design:
- Animal Well;
- Astro Bot;
- Balatro — winner;
- Black Myth: Wukong;
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes;
- Honorable Mentions: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Helldivers 2, Satisfactory, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, UFO 50.
Innovation Award:
- Animal Well;
- Astro Bot;
- Balatro — winner;
- Black Myth: Wukong;
- UFO 50;
- Honorable Mentions: Helldivers 2, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Thank Goodness You're Here!, The Plucky Squire, Tiny Glade.
Best Narrative:
Best Technology:
- Astro Bot — winner;
- Black Myth: Wukong;
- Helldivers 2;
- Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2;
- Tiny Glade;
- Honorable Mentions: Animal Well, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Satisfactory, Tekken 8.
Best Visual Art:
- Animal Well;
- Astro Bot;
- Black Myth: Wukong — winner;
- Metaphor: ReFantazio;
- Neva;
- Honorable Mentions: Balatro, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Tiny Glade, Ultros.
Social Impact:
- 1000xRESIST;
- Astro Bot;
- Frostpunk 2;
- Life is Strange: Double Exposure — winner;
- Neva;
- Honorable Mentions: Closer the Distance, Distant Bloom, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Tales of Kenzera: Zau.
For the biggest announcements and showcases from GDC 2025, check out our full recap.
