The 2025 Game Developers Choice Awards have concluded, with LocalThunk’s deck-building roguelite game Balatro taking home the top prize for Game of the Year. The game also won Best Debut and Innovation award.
Other notable winners include Astro Bot, which took home two awards in the Audio and Technology categories. Black Myth: Wukong received the accolade for Best Visual Art, while Studio Zero’s Metaphor: ReFantazio won Best Narrative with Deck Nine Games’ Life is Strange: Double Exposure taking home the Social Impact award.
Remedy’s creative director Sam Lake received the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by Alan Wake and Control actor Matthew Porretta. Lucas Pope was given the Pioneer Award for his contributions to game development.
The Independent Games Festival also took place yesterday, with Consume Me awarded the Seumas McNally Grand Prize. Developed by a team of five, including Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thompson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P, and Ken ‘coda’ Synder, the game won multiple awards in categories such as Excellence in Visual Arts, Excellence in Audio, and Nuvo.
Freehold Games’ Caves of Qud won Excellence in Narrative, while Moonloop Games’ Hauntii took home the Excellence in Visual Arts award. Suspicious Developments’ Tactical Breach Wizards won Excellence in Design. Vinny Roca’s Slot Waste won Best Student Game, with Despelote from Suspicious Developments taking home the Excellence in Audio award.
Here is the full list of winners for both ceremonies:
2025 Game Developers Choice Awards Winners
* Game of the Year: Balatro (Local Thunk, Playstack)
* Best Debut: Balatro
* Best Visual Art: Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
* Best Audio: Astro Bot (Team Asobi, Sony Interactive Entertainment)
* Best Narrative: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero, Atlus, Sega)
* Best Technology: Astro Bot
* Best Design: Balatro
* Social Impact Award: Life is Strange: Double Exposure (Deck Nine Games, Square Enix)
* Innovation Award: Balatro
* Pioneer Award: Lucas Pope
* Lifetime Achievement Award: Sam Lake
Source: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/balatro-leads-game-developers-choice-awards-2025-wins-game-of-the-year