The Game Awards recently announced all the nominations for 2025, confirming the likes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight Silksong as frontrunners for Game of the Year 2025. However, many were quick to point out the lack of Xbox’s first-party titles on the list.
Indeed, the gaming giant has failed to secure a Game of the Year nomination for over a decade, and 2025 seems to be no different. Fortunately, Xbox has seen plenty of representation throughout all the categories, thanks to Game Pass. When looking at all the different categories, Xbox Game Pass titles boast a total of 13 nominations.
The following day one Xbox Game Pass offerings have secured nominations at The Game Awards 2025:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hollow Knight Silksong
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Doom: The Dark Ages
- Atomfall
- South of Midnight
- Ball x Pit
- Blue Prince
- Ninja Gaiden 4
- Avowed
- The Outer Worlds 2
- The Alters
- Rematch
As mentioned above, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight Silksong are competing for Game of the Year. Other releases like Doom: The Dark Ages and Ninja Gaiden 4 have been nominated in categories like Best Action Game. Rematch also made the list as a contender for the Best Sports Game, and indie releases like Blue Prince were nominated as well.
Similarly, Xbox Game Pass titles like South of Midnight and Atomfall have been nominated for their accessibility options. It should be noted that multiple titles have even received nominations in more than one category, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight Silksong being the leading examples.
The list shows that Xbox Game Pass offered a diverse, high-quality line up of day-one releases to its subscribers this year. Moreover, first-party titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, The Outer Worlds 2, and Doom: The Dark Ages making the list is an encouraging sign for the gaming giant.
Other games currently on Xbox Game Pass, including No Man’s Sky, have not been counted on the list. Still, it goes without saying that Microsoft’s subscription service has made quite a splash with the nominations alone, and it will be intriguing to see how many of these titles win in their respective categories.
With Halo Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-Day, Forza Horizon 6, and Fable coming from Xbox next year, perhaps the gaming giant will also be able to secure a Game of the Year nomination in 2026, breaking its long streak of failing to make it to the category.
