Lots of open-world goodness

I doubt anyone is going to complain about the nominee list for The Game Awards’ “Game of the Year” category this year. In a year packed with almost non-stop hit games, almost any month could have given us a game worthy of that coveted crown. Only six games can be selected, though, and I feel this list is much better than last year’s.

For 2018’s GOTY category,Red Dead Redemption 2,Celeste,Spider-Man,God of War,Assassin’s Creed OdysseyandMonster Hunter: Worldwill be vying for the top spot in front of thousands of fans.

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Your nominees for Game of the Year 2018@TheGameAwardspic.twitter.com/GJu4EiYX96

— The Game Awards (@thegameawards)June 22, 2025

The ghost at the end of the hallway

People were a bit upset at the nominees forlast year’s“Game of the Year” category at The Game Awards. HowPlayerUnknown’s Battlegroundswas even in contention without having been released just didn’t sit well with a lot of people. I never saw the issue with it (some people put over 1,000 hours into that game before release), but I can sort of understand the issue. Thankfully, that hasn’t been repeated this year.

For my money, I would have put something likeShadow of the ColossusorLa-Mulana 2on the list, but I can’t deny the quality of the nominees here. Everything is good and worth playing.

Picking up the smiley face post-it off the broken mirror

You can check out the other various categories and nominees by visiting theofficial Game Awards website.

John and Molly sitting on the park bench

Close up shot of Marissa Marcel starring in Ambrosio

Kukrushka sitting in a meadow

Lightkeeper pointing his firearm overlapped against the lighthouse background

Overseer looking over the balcony in opening cutscene of Funeralopolis

Edited image of Super Imposter looking through window in No I’m not a Human demo cutscene with thin man and FEMA inside the house

Looking at the ghost of Jackie inside the lighthouse