Awards season is now upon us, and the 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards are being held on November 20th. Despite not having nominations in either the PC Game of the Year or Console Game of the Year categories, Xbox have now got a firm contender for Ultimate Game of the Year. We’ve got the scoop on all of the games featured in the line-up as the Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year nominees are revealed.
You can also take part in our poll towards the end of this article. Which of these cracking titles would you vote for as ‘Ultimate Game of the Year’?
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
“Indiana Jones is the original tomb-raiding adventurer and MachineGames have, to put it simply – nailed it. They’ve crafted an unforgettable journey that’s worthy of the franchise. Ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime? The mystery of the Great Circle awaits.“
Blue Prince
“Blue Prince is an atmospheric, architectural rogue-lite adventure played from a first person perspective that took me completely by surprise. It merges mystery, incredible design, unbelievable depth and satisfying strategy to make something frighteningly addictive. I couldn’t stop playing, and hold on to your butts, because it might just be one of the best games I’ve ever played.“
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
“The city of Lumiere was sent to the sea 76 years ago in an event known as the Fracture. In the distance on the main continent is a Monolith. Every year, The Paintress waves her hand and paints a new number onto it. All of that age are erased from existence in an event known as the Gommage. As Gustave, a member of Expedition 33, your goal is to stop the Paintress from ever painting death again. To say more would spoil one of my favorite stories, not just in video games but for any medium of entertainment. Sandfall Interactive’s debut title is a triumph.“
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Donkey Kong Bananza
Hades 2
“Hades II features a new protagonist, Melinoë. She is Zagreus’ sister and a powerful witch. The game’s setup is understandably different from the first. The writing, voice acting, and music are all top-notch – More choice, more numbers to go up, more things to unlock. That is the core of Hades II’s biggest improvements. Melinoë will craft spells to empower herself and the crossroads camp, plant seeds to gain items for crafting/spell work, offer up gifts to those around her, unlock weapons, trinkets, boons, paths, and tools, and it all feels so God damned good.“
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Ghost of Yotei
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Silent Hill f
“SILENT HILL f is all kinds of f’ed up. Set in 1960s Japan, you are Himiko, a high school student whose town is besieged by ancient, evil fog. Through nearly 15 hours and multiple playthroughs, you will fight, cry, scream, and smash your way through disgusting creatures as you try to save your family and friends. It never goes where you think; the story is dark as hell, and I loved it.“
Split Fiction
“Split Fiction, the next game from the masters of co-operative game design at Hazelight Studios. Their last game, the wonderful “It Takes Two“, sold 23 million copies and won Game of the Year in 2021. Can Game Director Josef Fares and the team at Hazelight do it all again? The answer my friends, is a resounding yes. Yes, they can, and then some.“
Peak
So there we have it – the list of nominees for the Golden Joystick Awards ‘Ultimate Game of the Year 2025.’ Which one gets your Vote?
How do you feel about the nominations for Ultimate Game of 2025? Let us know in the XboxEra Forums or make some noise in the lively XboxEra Community Discord Server. If you’re looking to be a bigger part of an amazing community, then either choice is a good one!
