Astro Bot, Black Myth: Wukong topped the list of Game Developers Choice Award nominees

The nominees for the 2025 Game Developers Choice Awards have been revealed. Astro Bot and Black Myth: Wukong are this year’s frontrunners, but some indie games like Animal Well have also surprised the public.

The Game Developers Choice Awards 2025 have been announced.

The Game Developers Choice Awards take place every year at GDC, immediately following the Independent Games Festival awards ceremony. While the latter festival focuses on indie games, GDC is more like The Game Awards, where AAA and independent games are honored.

Game Developers Choice Awards are held every year at GDC, right after the Independent Games Festival.

This year, Astro Bot and Black Myth: Wukong each received seven nominations. That makes them front runners for Game of the Year. Other nominees include Balatro, Helldivers 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Not a few indie games made big strides this year. Animal Well claimed five awards, including Best Design, and UFO 50 made it into the Innovation category. Critics’ favorite 1000xResist received three nominations, including one in the Best Storytelling category. The horror hit Mouthwashing will also vie for this award.

Horror hit Mouthwashing.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on March 19 on GDC’s Twitch channel.

Best Sound

• Animal Well
• Astro Bot
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
• Honorable Mentions: Balatro, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Neva, Silent Hill 2

Best Debut

• 1000xResist
• Animal Well
• Balatro
• Pacific Drive
• Tiny Glade
• Honorable Mentions: Manor Lords, Mullet Madjack, The Plucky Squire, Tiny Glade

Best Design

• Animal Well
• Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
• Honorable Mentions: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Helldivers 2, Satisfactory, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, UFO 50

Innovation Award

• Animal Well

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• Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• UFO 50
• Honorable mentions: Helldivers 2, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Thank Goodness You’re Here!, The Plucky Squire, Tiny Glade.

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Best Narrative

• 1000xResist

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• Black Myth: Wukong
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Mouthwashing
• Honorable Mentions: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Frostpunk 2, Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Neva, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

Best Technology

• Astro Bot

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• Black Myth: Wukong
• Helldivers 2
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
• Tiny Glade
• Honorable Mentions: Animal Well, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Satisfactory, Tekken 8

Best Artwork

• Animal Well

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• Astro Bot
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Neva
• Honorable Mentions: Balatro, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Tiny Glade, Ultros

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Social Value Award

• 1000xResist
• Astro Bot
• Frostpunk 2
• Life is Strange: Double Exposure
• Neva
• Honorable Mentions: Closer the Distance, Distant Bloom, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Game of the Year

• Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Helldivers 2
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Honorable mentions: Animal Well, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Satisfactory, UFO 50