“Astro Bot” crowned best game of the year

At the end of an evening full of announcements, highlights and celebrations, it was “Astro Bot” who walked away with the title of Game of the Year among its four Game Awards, Thursday in Los Angeles.

The evening lived up to the event and the anniversary. To celebrate their 10th anniversary, the Game Awards pulled out all the stops and brought out the glitter with an audience of prestigious guests from Music and cinema (Harrison Ford, Snoop Dogg. Twenty One Pilots, Aaron Paul, etc.), like video games (Todd Howard, Troy Baker, Hideo Kojima, Sam Lake…).

Enough to brighten up the audience with humor, glamor and a lot of self-deprecation, from Geoff Keighley, the master of ceremonies who is often interrupted and disturbed by the Muppet duo, Statler and Waldorf. Faced with the many World Premieres unsheathed during the evening (The Witcher 4, Borderlands 4, Elden Ring Nightreign, Mafia: The old Countrythe future game from Naughty Dog Intergalactic…), the rewards were almost secondary during this rich three-hour evening. It is not without reason and to leave space that many of them were distributed without the winners even being able to collect their prize.

Balatro, the other blessed

Even if the predictions were rather tight and the result unpredictable, it is ultimately the big winner of the nominations who leaves with the most prizes and especially that of Game of the Year. Astro Bot dedicates the Frenchman Nicolas Doucet and the Team Asobi based in Tokyo. The platform game exclusive to the PS5 has shone since its release in September and appeared to be the most consensual game for voters, compared to Black Myth: Wukong which had sparked controversy, Metaphor: Reimagining et Final Fantasy VII Rebirth often accused of being too specific, or even Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdree whose presence as an extension had caused a lot of ink to flow. Although praised for its originality and audacity, Balatro seemed more like an outsider.

More Astro Bot owes nothing to chance. Excellent game, creative and clever, it was also crowned best family game, best action-adventure game and best game direction. Four trophies and a success worthy of a title usually signed by Nintendo. And Nicolas Doucet did not fail to pay tribute (without naming him) to the Tokyo giant without whom he would never have acquired a taste for this type of games as a child and wanted to do the same.

Even without the supreme laurels, Balatro is the other big winner of the evening with Metaphor: Reimagining who undoubtedly aspired to better. The astonishing card game leaves with three Game Awards (best independent game, best first game and best mobile game). Helldivers 2 is crowned best multiplayer game to the detriment of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and best service game.

Note that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownwhose team was recently dismantled, is dedicated to the accessibility of the game, one of the models of its kind in the industry. Melina Juergens, still stunning as Senua in Hellblade 2is crowned best performer for the second time in the history of the ceremony. And for the same role.

The palmarès

Game of the Year: Astro Bot

Best Game Direction: Astro Bot

Best Storytelling: Metaphor: ReFantasia

Best Art Direction: Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Music: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Best Audio Design: Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2

Best Performance: Melina Juergens (Senua in Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2)

Best “Game for Impact”: Neva

Best Service Game: Helldivers 2

Best community support: Baldur’s Gate 3

Best Indie Game: Balatro

Best First Indie Game: Balatro

Innovation in Accessibility: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Best Mobile Game: Balatro

Best VR/AR Game: Batman Arkham Shadows

Best Action Game: Black Myth: Wukong

Best Action-Adventure Game: Astro Bot

Best RPG: Metaphor: ReFantasia

Best Fighting Game: Tekken 8

Best Family Game: Astro Bot

Best Simulation-Strategy Game: Frostpunk 2

Best Sports-Racing Game: EA Sports FC 25

Best Multiplayer Game: Helldivers 2

Best Adaptation: Fallout

Most Anticipated Game of 2025: Grand Theft Auto 6

Content Creator of the Year: Caseoh

Best eSports Game: League of Legends

Best eSports Player: Faker

Best eSports Team: T1 (League of Legends)

Audience Play: Black Myth: Wukong