Gaming Influence: Predictions - Game Awards 2025
Hello everyone,
Welcome to Gaming Influence, a reboot of the same name I created in WrestleCorp. However, I will not only be giving my thoughts on certain video games and video game series but also on video game movies, video game anime, video game digital presentations, etc.
For this edition of Gaming Influence, I'll be giving my predictions for the 2024 Game Awards, which will be airing the show live worldwide on December 12, 2024. I'm definitely excited for the game announcements and trailers for the show, as anything can happen from all of the video game companies, so we'll see what they have.
However, these predictions do not focus on what games will appear on the show but on the awards themselves, as I won't be doing all of them. This year, I will make sixteen predictions for sixteen categories for the Game Awards. In addition, these predictions will be done differently this year compared to the past year, as I will do them all in one article/editorial.
Anyway, let's get started!
The nominees for Most Anticipated Game for 2026 include 007 First Light, Grand Theft Auto VI, Marvel's Wolverine, Resident Evil Requiem, and The Witcher IV.
In terms of which game I think will be the Most Anticipated Game in 2026, I think the winner will be Grand Theft Auto VI. Just like I mentioned last year, it has been thirteen years since the last mainline Grand Theft Auto game, and despite the game being delayed numerous times, it's still a lot of people's most anticipated games. Plus, the Game Awards' judges are huge fans of Rockstar Games, so with both the judges and the fans being hyped for this game, I believe that Grand Theft Auto VI will be the Most Anticipated Game in 2026.
In terms of which game I want to be the Most Anticipated Game in 2026, I want it to be Marvel's Wolverine. For all of the other nominations in this category, as much as I'm excited for all of them, I'm mainly excited for Marvel's Wolverine the most, since it's been four years since we saw anything of any gameplay and we even got gameplay for it, which is insane. Even though it has no chance of winning since Grand Theft Auto VI is going to take it no matter what, Marvel's Wolverine is my Most Anticipated Game in 2026.
Next, we'll talk about this category, Best Multiplayer Game of the Year.
The nominees for Best Multiplayer Game of the Year include ARC Raiders, Battlefield 6, ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN, PEAK, and Split Fiction.
In terms of which game I think will be the Best Multiplayer Game of the Year, I think the winner will be ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN. The fact that this game is pretty much ELDEN RING, but multiplayer is definitely going to make a lot of people love this game, and it's basically just that. Plus, with the Game Awards' judges tend to favor FromSoftware games, I can see ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN being the one to win Best Multiplayer Game of the Year.
In terms of which game, I want to be the Best Multiplayer Game of the Year, I also want it to be ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN. Just as I mentioned previously, the fact that we got a full-on ELDEN RING multiplayer game is insane, and ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is exactly that. With fans loving the game as well as the judges being huge fans of FromSoftware, this has a high chance of winning this category. Therefore, I want ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN to win Best Multiplayer Game of the Year.
Next, we'll talk about this category, Best Sports/Racing Game of the Year.
The nominees for Best Sports/Racing Game of the Year include EA Sports FC 26, F1 25, Mario Kart World, REMATCH, and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.
In terms of which game I think will be the Best Sports/Racing Game of the Year, I think the winner will be Mario Kart World. With the Mario franchise being a huge global phenomenon and the fact that the Mario Kart series is one of the biggest and highest-selling video game franchises of all time, having a new original game this year is insane. Despite the issues I have with the game as an actual racing game, the game is still quite a lot of fun, and a lot of casuals love this game. Due to those reasons, I can see Mario Kart World winning the Best Sports/Racing Game of the Year.
In terms of which game I want to be the Best Sports/Racing Game of the Year, I want Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds to win. Even though I do feel like Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds does have its issues, I still think it's a pretty fun racing game, and it's probably a better racing game than Mario Kart World in my personal opinion. With Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds being a better racing game and a much more enjoyable game compared to the rest of the games listed in this category, I feel like Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds should win Best Sports/Racing Game of the Year.
Next, we'll talk about this category, Best Family Game of the Year.
The nominees for Best Family Game of the Year include Donkey Kong Bananza, LEGO Party!, LEGO Voyagers, Mario Kart World, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and Split Fiction.
In terms of which game I think will be the Best Family Game of the Year, I think the winner will be Donkey Kong Bananza. This is a game that a lot of people can enjoy and play as you're playing as a gorilla punching everything in sight, but with a little bit of strategy. With how accessible this game is to everyone of all ages, I think Donkey Kong Bananza has a high chance of winning Best Family Game of the Year.
In terms of which game I want to be the Best Family Game of the Year, I want the winner to be Mario Kart World. Racing games tend to bring people together, and that includes family, which Mario Kart World is a perfect example of. Whether it be with friends or family, this is a game that everyone can play and enjoy. Therefore, I want Mario Kart World to win Best Family Game of the Year, as it's a game that'll bring people together.
Next, we'll discuss this category, Best Fighting Game of the Year.
The nominees for Best Fighting Game of the Year include 2XKO, Capcom Fighting Collection 2, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, and Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage.
Regarding which game will be the Best Fighting Game of the Year, I think the winner will be 2XKO. Since it's a fighting game that has League of Legends characters in it, it would bring a lot of people to play the game to try it out, since League of Legends has a huge fanbase. With the judges being huge fans of League of Legends, I can see 2XKO winning Best Fighting Game of the Year.
Regarding which game I want to be the Best Fighting Game of the Year, I want it to be Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. It has been almost three decades since we last had a new original Fatal Fury game, and we finally got it in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and it delivered big time. With enjoyable single-player content, online, fun gameplay, and more fighters to join the game, it's great to see Fatal Fury back in the fold. Hope the game wins Best Fighting Game of the Year, even though it has a tough chance to do so in my opinion.
Next, we'll discuss the category, Best RPG of the Year.
The nominees for Best RPG of the Year include Avowed, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Monster Hunter Wilds, and The Outer Worlds 2.
In terms of which game I think will be the Best RPG of the Year, I think the winner will be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Pretty much everyone in the video game community this year probably heard about this game a ton when it released, and it has every right to be. This game pretty much checks off everything that an RPG should have in terms of story, characters, gameplay, world exploration, and music. This game to me felt like a JRPG, but it's made in a Western setting and made by a Western developer. Love it. With how much this game is talked about worldwide, I see it winning Best RPG of the Year.
In terms of which game, I want to be the Best RPG of the Year, I also want it to be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Just as I mentioned previously, this game checks off all of the boxes of what I wanted in an RPG, and the fact that this is done by an indie studio is incredible. Whether people like it or not, it deserves the praise that it does, and I want it to win Best RPG of the Year.
Next, we'll talk about this category, Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year.
The nominees for Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year include Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Split Fiction.
In terms of which game I think will be the Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year, I think the winner will be Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. With the Game Awards' judges being huge fans of Kojima Productions, I wouldn't be surprised if they voted Death Stranding 2: On the Beach to win Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year. Even though I wouldn't be mad if it won, I felt like other games within this category deserve to win, but I see Death Stranding 2: On The Beach winning Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year.
In terms of which game I want to be the Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year, I want the winner to be Hollow Knight: Silksong. Even though all of these games listed in this category have every right to win Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year, Hollow Knight: Silksong has that perfect mixture of action and adventure into one. Plus, we've waited six years for this game to finally come out, and it delivered big time. Therefore, I want Hollow Knight: Silksong to win Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year.
Next, we'll discuss the category, Best Action Game of the Year.
In terms of which game I think will be the Best Action Game of the Year, I think the winner will be Hades II. This game has one of the best action combat gameplay ever, and with the Game Awards' judges being huge fans of Supergiant Games as well as being a contender for Game of the Year, I can see it winning Best Action Game of the Year. With the fans' support, the support of the Game Awards' judges, and it being a candidate for Game of the Year, I see Hades II winning Best Action Game of the Year.
In terms of which game I want to be the Best Action Game of the Year, I want the winner to be NINJA GAIDEN 4. Even though all of the games in this category have a good chance of winning this category, NINJA GAIDEN 4 has the best action combat out of all of the games here. Plus, it's been a long time since the release of Ninja Gaiden 3, so having a new original Ninja Gaiden game that actually plays well is incredible. Granted, Hades II will take the win here probably, which I wouldn't mind, but I want NINJA GAIDEN 4 to take the award in this category.
Next, we'll talk about the Best Debut Indie Game of the Year category.
The nominees for Best Debut Indie Game of the Year include Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Despelote, and Dispatch. (Megabonk used to be on here, but the developer dropped out due to being a non-debut indie developer, so props to him for speaking up about it.)
Regarding which game will be the Best Debut Indie Game of the Year, I think the winner will be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The fact that this game is the first game that they made as their own studio is extremely impressive, and this game deserves all of the praise it gets. With so many people supporting the game, I see Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 winning Best Debut Indie Game of the Year.
Regarding which game I want to be the Best Debut Indie Game of the Year, I also want it to be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. As I mentioned previously, the fact that this game is made by a studio that did its first game independently is extremely impressive. In a way, it felt like an actual AAA game in its own right. With fans behind it as well as its praise, I want Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to win Best Debut Indie Game of the Year.
Next, we'll discuss the category, Best Independent Game of the Year.
The nominees for Best Independent Game of the Year include Absolum, BALL x PIT, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades II, and Hollow Knight: Silksong.
In terms of which game I think will be the Best Independent Game of the Year, I think the winner will be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Just like I mentioned in the Best Debut Indie Game of the Year category, this game is played by a lot of people and is well-received. With all of the hype that this game got this year when it got released, it has a high chance of winning Best Independent Game of the Year.
In terms of which game, I want to be the Best Independent Game of the Year, I also want it to be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Whether you like it or not, it's the most talked-about indie game currently, even though all of the other indie games in this category are amazing in their own right. This game truly feels like a,n AAA game and should be treated as such. Despite loving the other indie games in this category, the impact that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has had among the gaming community is impressive and should definitely win Best Independent Game of the Year because of it.
Next, we'll discuss the category, Best Audio Design of the Year.
The nominees for Best Audio Design of the Year include Battlefield 5, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, and Silent Hill f.
In terms of which game I think will win the Best Audio Design of the Year, I think the winner will be Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. With this game being all about isolation and atmosphere, it really captures that feeling well through its audio design, making you feel like you're in that world. Plus, the Game Awards’ judges love Kojima Productions, so I see it winning here, and it deserves it if it does.
In terms of which game I want to win the Best Audio Design of the Year, I want the winner to be Silent Hill f. Survival horror games tend to deliver when it comes to audio design, and the intensity I feel every time I play the game feels like something dangerous is something that ends up happening due to the audio design. Even though I think Death Stranding II: On the Beach will take the award here, I want Silent Hill f to win this year’s Best Audio Design of the Year.
Next, we'll talk about this category, Best Score and Music of the Year.
The nominees for Best Score and Music of the Year include Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades II, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ghost of Yōtei, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
In terms of which game I think will win the Best Score and Music of the Year, I think the winner will be Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The Death Stranding series tends to have amazing music with a great mixture of original music as well as licensed music. With the Game Awards' judges being huge fans of Kojima Productions as well, I expect Death Stranding 2: On the Beach to win Best Score and Music of the Year.
In terms of which game I want to win the Best Score and Music of the Year, I want the winner to be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. All of the soundtracks in this category are incredible in their own right, but out of all of them, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stood out to me the most. Due to a great mixture of different varieties of tunes and melodies, this soundtrack is amazing due to showcasing every emotion and feeling in each part of the game. Therefore, I want Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to win Best Score and Music of the Year.
Next, we'll talk about this category, Best Art Direction of the Year.
The nominees for Best Art Direction of the Year include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Hades II, and Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Regarding which game will win Best Art Direction of the Year, I believe the winner will be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The art direction for this game has a great mixture of realism as well as fantasy into one. Not only that, the game has a nice range of colors, including its battle combat system, which has a very nice UI to it. With fans hyping this game up, I can definitely see it winning Best Art Direction of the Year.
Regarding which game I want to win Best Art Direction of the Year, I want it to be Hades II. Just like with Hades, this game has an amazing art direction where it is flashy, stylish, and it just pops, which makes it stand out. In some cases, the game looks like an animated cartoon, which I really enjoy. With the game standing out with its art style, Hades II deserves to win Best Art Direction of the Year.
Next, we'll discuss the category, Best Narrative of the Year.
The nominees for Best Narrative of the Year include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Kingdom Come: Deliervance II, and Silent Hill f.
In terms of which game I think will win Best Narrative of the Year, I think the winner will be Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The story continues from the first Death Stranding game, and the continuing themes of isolation really hit hard within this game, where people can relate to it. Plus, with the Game Awards' judges being huge fans of Kojima Productions, I can see Death Stranding 2: On the Beach winning Best Narrative of the Year.
In terms of which game, I want to win the Best Narrative of the Year, I want it to be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The narrative in this game really hits hard as this game covers themes such as loss, purpose of life, etc., which a lot of people can relate to. For an independent studio coming up with a story like this is incredible, and it deserves to be recognized, as I believe, and I want Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to win Best Narrative of the Year.
Next, we'll discuss the category of Best Game Direction of the Year.
The nominees for Best Game Direction of the Year include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Hades II, and Split Fiction.
In terms of which game will win Best Game Direction of the Year, I think the winner will be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Even though turn-based combat has existed for a long time, the way Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 combines it with Soulslike antics and timing sequences makes it unique in a way I appreciate. Plus, with the fans being behind on the game, I can see it winning Best Game Direction of the Year.
In terms of which game I want to win Best Game Direction of the Year, I want Split Fiction to win. Even though multiplayer games have been done before, the way that Split Fiction has different gameplay mechanics while playing multiplayer is extremely impressive and a lot of fun as well. Even though I think Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will win here, I want Split Fiction to win Best Game Direction of the Year due to its unique way of dealing with multiplayer.
Finally, we'll discuss the category, Game of the Year.
The nominees for Game of the Year include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
In terms of which game will win Game of the Year, I think the winner will be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It's the most talked-about game this year, and it's a highly praised game as well. With the fans being behind this game as well as a lot of gaming media/journalists praising this game, I have a feeling that the Game Awards' judges will pick it as the winner as well, so I think that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will win the Best Game Direction of the Year here.
In terms of which game I want to win Game of the Year, I want the winner to be Donkey Kong Bananza. Even though every game on this list definitely has every right to be Game of the Year, to me, Donkey Kong Bananza just gives me the biggest joy when playing it. It's been two decades since a new original 3D Donkey Kong platformer, and it's a lot of fun, which brought back Donkey Kong in a huge way. Even though I don’t think it’ll win Game of the Year, I would love to see it win, as it would be a surprise, and I think it deserves it personally.
Those are my predictions for the Game Awards.
Which games do you think or want to win the awards in each category?
Let me know in the comments below.
Thank you for reading.
Comments
Post a Comment