Absolutely — what a thrilling year it’s been for pop culture, and the 2025 IGN Awards are shaping up to be one of the most memorable celebrations yet. As we close out 2025 and inch toward the dawn of 2026, it's only fitting that we pause to honor the stories, innovations, and performances that left us breathless, inspired, and utterly hooked.
Let’s break down what made this year truly unforgettable — and set the stage for the big reveal.
🎮 The Year in Games: Innovation, Legacy, and New Voices
2025 wasn’t just a year of long-awaited returns — it was a year of new legends rising.
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Hollow Knight: Silksong — After years of whispers and quiet anticipation, this hauntingly beautiful sequel delivered on every promise. A masterclass in level design, emotional storytelling, and environmental depth. It didn’t just close a chapter — it rewrote the rules of the metroidvania genre.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — The debut from Sandfall Interactive didn’t just surprise us — it stunned us. With its surreal dream logic, painterly visuals, and a narrative that unraveled like a forgotten myth, it’s already being hailed as the most original game of the decade. A true indie revelation.
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Sinners (2025) — Directed by a visionary unknown, this atmospheric horror-action hybrid fused psychological dread with visceral combat. The score alone deserves an award. It wasn’t just a game — it was a feeling.
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One Battle After Another — A relentless, non-stop shooter that made every second count. Its "no reload, no mercy" philosophy turned every match into a life-or-death ballet. A cult classic in the making.
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Batman: Dark Patterns — Gotham’s shadows grew darker in 2025. This gritty, noir-inspired narrative adventure explored Bruce Wayne’s descent into obsession with chilling precision. A haunting companion to the world of Arkham, but not afraid to go further.
And let’s not forget the platform shake-ups. With our new open eligibility policy, this year’s Best Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Game categories reflect a true evolution in how we define console identity. Multi-platform hits like Aetherfall: Requiem, Soul of the Horizon, and Echoes of Elsewhere didn’t just play on a console — they defined it.
🎥 On Screen: The Year the Stories Stood Tall
2025 wasn’t just about gameplay — it was about meaning.
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Severance (Season 2) — The second season didn’t just build on the first; it expanded the mystery, deepened the trauma, and left us questioning reality itself. Ling’s final monologue? Chills. We’re still not sure what’s real.
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The Last Light of Virelia (HBO) — A sweeping sci-fi epic that blended interstellar politics with intimate family drama. With a score by legendary composer Juno Vale, it felt like Dune meets The Leftovers — and it hit every beat.
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My Father’s Paper (Netflix) — A quiet, devastating coming-of-age drama that captured the weight of family secrets through the lens of a teenage artist in 1990s Tokyo. This wasn’t just a show — it was a memory.
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Ghost of the Mire (Apple TV+) — A supernatural thriller set in the fog-drenched marshes of Northern England. Every episode felt like a page from a forgotten gothic novel. The finale? A twist so brutal, it left us speechless.
🎞️ Best Movie? The List Is Heavily Contested
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The Revenant Hour – A brutal, meditative Western that redefined the genre. Its final 20 minutes were so immersive, audiences sat in silence for 30 seconds after the credits.
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Crimson Signal – A neo-noir thriller that fused 1980s synthwave with existential dread. The final act? A masterstroke of cinematic storytelling.
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Echoes in the Ice – A sci-fi survival drama that felt like The Thing if it were directed by Tarkovsky. Cold, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable.
🎭 Best Anime? A New Era of Animation
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Chrono Bloom – A magical girl series with a dark, philosophical core. Its final arc redefined the genre.
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Neon Gauntlet – A cyberpunk action epic that balanced heart-pounding fights with a haunting meditation on identity and memory.
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The Sky Beneath the Ashes – A Studio MAPPA masterpiece about a world where air is a luxury. Its animation, symbolism, and emotional depth made it an instant classic.
🏆 The Grand Finale: Game of the Year 2025
As the week-long celebration unfolds — starting Monday, December 15 — every announcement will be live, every result earned, every vote counted.
And on Friday, December 19, after five days of dazzling reveals, we’ll crown IGN’s Game of the Year 2025.
Will it be Hollow Knight: Silksong, the long-awaited return of a beloved world?
Or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a debut so powerful it might define the future of indie gaming?
Or perhaps a third-party titan — a game that transcended platforms, reshaped expectations, and captured the soul of 2025?
We don’t know yet.
But one thing’s certain: 2025 was a year that reminded us why we love stories.
🔔 Don’t miss a moment.
Return to IGN.com daily from December 15–19 to see each award revealed.
🗳️ Cast your vote in the official polls below.
Your voice matters — and the final results will reflect not just our editors’ choices, but yours.
🎉 Here’s to 2025 — a year of wonder, depth, and unforgettable moments.
And here’s to 2026 — the year GTA 6 arrives.
But first…
The 2025 IGN Awards are live. The show begins now.
