Get ready to argue about the year's biggest gaming triumphs—because 2025 was a wild ride, and the IGN Awards are here to crown the champions! As we gear up for 2026 and the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6, let's take a moment to toast the incredible games, films, and series that stole our hearts this past year. But here's where it gets controversial: with so many cross-platform hits dominating the scene, how do we really decide what belongs to one console over another?
The IGN Awards 2025 are all about celebrating the pinnacle of pop culture from the last 12 months. Picture this: a staggering array of stellar titles across gaming, cinema, and television that kept us entertained, terrified, and utterly hooked. From the patience-testing release of Hollow Knight: Silksong— that Metroidvania masterpiece from Team Cherry that fans had been dreaming about for years—to the fresh energy of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG from newcomer Sandfall Interactive that sparked endless debates and dominated chat rooms everywhere. (For beginners, think of it as a mix of classic JRPG strategy and modern narrative depth, where you explore a mysterious world full of choices and consequences.)
On the silver screen, we were gripped by the gritty, blues-infused horror action in Sinners and the high-octane adrenaline of One Battle After Another—a Paul Thomas Anderson-directed thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio that left viewers breathless with its relentless pace. At home, we binge-watched the mind-bending twists of Severance's second season, a sci-fi gem that explores identity and corporate secrets in a way that's both thrilling and thought-provoking. And don't forget the graphic novel Batman: Dark Patterns, which wove dark knight lore into gripping, page-turning stories. All these and more are up for our prestigious end-of-year accolades.
We're excited to unveil the complete roster of nominees for the IGN Awards 2025. Kicking off on Monday, December 15, we'll reveal winners daily, covering categories like Best Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo games, alongside Best Movie, Best TV Show, Best Anime, and plenty others. The week peaks on Friday, December 19, with the big reveal of IGN’s Game of the Year. Stay tuned to this page for live updates on every victory.
Before diving in, let's talk about our console-specific awards— and this is the part most people miss, or maybe love to debate. In the past, we've often favored games that felt 'native' to each platform, even if not strictly exclusive. But recognizing how the industry has evolved—with multi-platform titles like third-party blockbusters shaping every console's ecosystem—we've opened the door this year to include any game released on Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo, regardless of exclusivity. It's a shift that paints a fascinating picture of 2025's gaming landscape, where cross-platform hits rivaled exclusives in impact. What do you think—does this make the awards more fair, or does it dilute the spirit of console loyalty?
Our awards are decided by IGN's talented content creators—the folks behind our reviews, guides, and social buzz. But don't just take our word for it! We want your voice too. Cast your votes for your favorite games, movies, shows, and more in the polls right below.
The Best Game of 2025
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hades 2
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
The Best Movie of 2025
- Frankenstein
- KPop Demon Hunters
- One Battle After Another
- Marty Supreme
- Sinners
- Weapons
The Best TV Show of 2025
- Alien: Earth (season 1)
- Andor (season 2)
- The Pitt (season 1)
- Pluribus (season 1)
- The Rehearsal (season 2)
- Severance (season 2)
The Best Anime Series of 2025
- Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
- Dan Da Dan (season 2)
- Takopi's Original Sin
- The Summer Hikaru Died
- Zenshu
The Best Comic Book or Graphic Novel of 2025
- Absolute Wonder Woman
- Assorted Crisis Events
- Batman: Dark Patterns
- Drome
- Ice Cream Man
The Best PlayStation Game of 2025
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Dispatch
- Ghost of Yotei
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
The Best Xbox Game of 2025
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Keeper
- The Outer Worlds 2
- Split Fiction
The Best Nintendo Game of 2025
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hades 2
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Kirby Air Riders
- Mario Kart World
The Best PC Game of 2025
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Hades 2
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
The Best RPG of 2025
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
- The Outer Worlds 2
- Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
The Best Action-Adventure Game of 2025
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Ghost of Yotei
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Split Fiction
The Best Action Game of 2025
- The First Berserker: Khazan
- Hades 2
- Monster Hunter Wilds
- Ninja Gaiden 4
- Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
The Best Shooter Game of 2025
- Arc Raiders
- Battlefield 6
- Borderlands 4
- Doom: The Dark Ages
- Marvel Rivals*
*While Marvel Rivals launched in December 2024, it missed last year's cutoff, so we've included it here for fair consideration this time around.
The Best Roguelike Game of 2025
- Ball x Pit
- Blue Prince
- Elden Ring Nightreign
- Hades 2
- Monster Train 2
The Best Puzzle Game of 2025
- Blue Prince
- Is This Seat Taken?
- Keeper
- Lumines Arise
- The Séance of Blake Manor
The Best Strategy Game of 2025
- Anno 117: Pax Romana
- Europa Universalis 5
- The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy
- Monster Train 2
- Two Point Museum
The Best Remake or Remastered Game of 2025
- Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake
- The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles
- Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
- Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
The Best Art Direction in a Video Game of 2025
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Ghost of Yotei
- Hades 2
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- South of Midnight
The Best Video Game Music/Score of 2025
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hades 2
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
The Best Performance in a Video Game of 2025
- Aaron Paul (Robert Robertson/Mecha Man, Dispatch)
- Ben Starr (Verso, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Erika Ishii (Atsu, Ghost of Yotei)
- Jennifer English (Maelle, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Konatsu Kato (Hinako Shimizu, Silent Hill f)
The Best Ensemble Cast in a Video Game of 2025
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Dispatch
- Ghost of Yotei
- Hades 2
The Best Performer in a Movie of 2025
- Amy Madigan (Gladys, Weapons)
- Chase Infiniti (Willa Ferguson, One Battle After Another)
- Jacob Elordi (The Creature, Frankenstein)
- Leonardo DiCaprio (Bob Ferguson, One Battle After Another)
- Michael B. Jordan (Elijah "Smoke" Moore and Elias "Stack" Moore, Sinners)
- Timothée Chalamet (Marty Mauser, Marty Supreme)
The Best Performer in a TV Show of 2025
- Babou Ceesay (Morrow, Alien: Earth)
- Genevieve O'Reilly (Mon Mothma, Andor)
- Noah Wyle (Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, The Pitt)
- Owen Cooper (Jamie Miller, Adolescence)
- Rhea Seehorn (Carol Sturka, Pluribus)
The Best Ensemble Cast in a TV Show or Movie of 2025
- Andor (season 2)
- One Battle After Another
- The Pitt (season 1)
- Severance (season 2)
- Sinners
The Best TV Episode of 2025
- Adolescence Season 1, Episode 3 - "Episode 3"
- Andor Season 2, Episode 8 - “Who Are You?”
- The Pitt Season 1, Episode 12 - "6:00 P.M."
- The Rehearsal Season 2, Episode 3 - "Pilot's Code"
- Severance Season 2, Episode 10 - "Cold Harbor"
The Best Superhero Movie of 2025
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Superman
- Thunderbolts*
The Best Sci-Fi or Fantasy Movie of 2025
- Bugonia
- Companion
- Frankenstein
- Predator: Badlands
- Predator: Killer of Killers
The Best Horror Movie of 2025
- 28 Years Later
- Bring Her Back
- Sinners
- Together
- Weapons
Don't forget to keep checking in starting December 15 for daily winner announcements. IGN's Game of the Year 2025 drops on Friday, December 19!
What are your thoughts on this year's nominees? Do you agree with our expanded rules for console awards, or do you think we should stick to exclusives? Which category excites you the most—and why? Drop your opinions in the comments below; we'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have a totally different take!
