The mid-year mark has passed, but it’s already clear that one or two games will take home the coveted title of Game of the Year in 2025. With three frontrunners – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from Sandfall Interactive, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach from Kojima Productions, and Donkey Kong Bananza from Nintendo EPD – dominating the conversation, it’s hard to imagine any other game giving them a serious challenge.
Each of these three titles has received widespread critical acclaim for its innovative gameplay mechanics, engaging storylines, and polished production values. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a standout title in the JRPG genre, with a modern take on classic formula that combines turn-based combat with real-time actions. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach builds upon the success of its predecessor, refining the original game’s core traversal challenge gameplay experience and introducing new characters and environments.
Donkey Kong Bananza is an open-world adventure that pays homage to both Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. With its addictive gameplay, varied environments, and satisfying combat mechanics, it’s shaping up to be a must-play title for Switch owners.
While these three games are currently ahead in the GOTY race, there are still some notable releases scheduled for 2025 that could potentially disrupt the status quo. Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yotei, Borderlands 4, The Outer Worlds 2, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are all highly anticipated titles that have generated significant buzz among gamers.
As we near the end of summer, it will be interesting to see which of these games manages to dethrone the current frontrunners. With a string of strong releases already under their belts, it’s hard to imagine Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and Donkey Kong Bananza being surpassed anytime soon.
Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/is-game-of-the-year-2025-donkey-kong-bananza-clair-obscur-expedition-33-death-stranding-2