The 43rd Golden Joystick Awards shortlist has just been revealed, and the voting is officially open. For gaming enthusiasts and developers alike, navigating this year’s incredible lineup presents a delightful challenge. With 21 fiercely contested categories, including coveted titles like PC Game of the Year, Best Multiplayer Game, and Best Indie Game, the sheer quality of nominees makes picking a winner an almost impossible task.
\”2025 is our most hotly-contested and unpredictable awards yet,\” states Daniel Dawkins, content director of the Golden Joystick Awards. \”Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Ghost of Yōtei and Hollow Knight: Silksong lead our nominations, but the shortlist’s breadth and quality reflect a fast-evolving industry, where indies, AAs or IIIs—whatever you’d like to call them—frequently dominate play time and social discourse.\”
Competitive Categories and Evolving Awards
Delving into the categories, the most fiercely contested races are shaping up in Best Multiplayer Game, where titans like Peak, Battlefield 6, Mario Kart World, and my personal favorite, Elden Ring Nightreign, are locked in intense competition for the top spot. Similarly, the Best Indie Game – Self-Published category showcases incredible talent, with contenders such as Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades 2, Peak, and Deltarune all vying for glory. As a tech enthusiast and storyteller, my gut says Silksong will ultimately claim the crown!
\”As gaming evolves, so do our categories, with the creation of a new award for Best Remake/Remaster,\” Dawkins elaborates. \”As the past becomes the present, the Golden Joystick Awards’ mission remains the same—to celebrate the very best in gaming, and give players the chance to reward the hardware, people and amazing virtual worlds that command our affections.\”
Voting Information and Event Details
Don’t fret, you still have time to weigh your options and cast your votes. The polls remain open until Halloween night, October 31, at 5pm PDT / 8pm EDT / midnight GMT. Mark your calendars: the winners of each category will be revealed during the awards ceremony on November 20. For those unable to attend in person in central London, rest assured the event will be live-streamed globally, making it accessible to every tech enthusiast and gamer worldwide.
For more insights into the ever-evolving world of gaming, explore these related resources from our fellow tech explorers:
2025 games: Upcoming releases
Best PC games: All-time favorites
Free PC games: Freebie fest
Best FPS games: Finest gunplay
Best RPGs: Grand adventures
Best co-op games: Better together