Right this moment, we reveal how your votes formed the PlayStation Blog Game of the Year awards for 2025. This yr’s voting noticed practically 1.5 million votes solid throughout the awards’ 19 classes, along with your decisions, and your decisions solely, deciding which video games would earn the coveted prime spots and accompanying trophies.
As with yearly, the awards are an opportunity so that you can assist spotlight the experiences that made your gaming yr, and by extension, the creatives who’ve crafted these video games. And as with yearly, there was an abundance of titles to pick out from, resulting in some powerful decisions.
Earlier than we dive into the class winners, a thanks to all the creators whose collaborative work has introduced PlayStation gamers a lot enjoyment the world over these previous 12 months.
And with out additional ado, the video games which obtained the most participant votes in every class are…
Finest New Character
Platinum Trophy: Atsu (Ghost of Yōtei)
Gold Trophy: Hornet (Hole Knight: Silksong)
Silver Trophy: Maelle (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
Bronze Trophy: Hinako (Silent Hill f)
The class acknowledges the cautious amalgamation of a number of artistic disciplines, from idea design, by way of in-game modelling, to movement seize and voice work, that lead to charming characters. And 2025 was wealthy with iconic protagonists.
That included Silent Hill f’s Hinako, with gamers unearthing her story as she confronted horrors that corrupted and twisted her quiet hometown life. The tag-team supply of Sandfall Interactive’s artistry and Jennifer English’s efficiency that etched Expedition 33’s Maelle in such vivid element. The quiet confidence of Silksong’s Hornet, and the elegant animations that outlined her each leap and strike. But it was Ghost of Yōtei’s Atsu that caught the most consideration. Putting design, a rising, multi-disciplined fight fashion that thrilled the senses, and a deeply private, fully-formed character arc that rigorously interwove revenge and redemption throughout a dense open world wealthy with tales. Sucker Punch Productions and voice actor Erika Ishii, take a bow.
Finest Story
Platinum Trophy: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Gold Trophy: Ghost of Yōtei
Silver Trophy: Demise Stranding 2: On the Seashore
Bronze Trophy: Silent Hill f
Silent Hill f’s small city horror. Demise Stranding 2: On the Seashore’s sweeping narrative. Ghost of Yōtei’s advanced quest for revenge. All demanded dissection, nevertheless it was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s whose endings rapidly turned important post-game dialogue, an indication a narrative has discovered a cultural echo. Past its disarmingly genuine dialogue and a few unbelievable bits of knowledge (whee whoo whee whoo), maybe the recreation’s most placing achievement is how elegantly it maintains the delicate stability between darkness and light-weight: levity and heat reducing by way of the heavy existential themes with exact, intentional timing. Clair obscur, if you’ll.
Finest Graphical Showcase
Platinum Trophy: Ghost of Yōtei
Gold Trophy: Demise Stranding 2: On the Seashore
Silver Trophy: Battlefield 6
Bronze Trophy: Arc Raiders
With every passing yr, creators flip rising familiarity with PS5 {hardware} to craft more and more detailed depictions of worlds that edge in the direction of photorealism. Regardless of hazard hidden in each stairwell and creek, Arc Raiders gamers couldn’t assist however take time to soak in the quiet, unsettling magnificence of its many devastated battlegrounds. Equally Battlefield 6’s upped the franchise’s urge for food for destruction, making it arduous to disregard the wider spectacle whilst you centered on survival. Lots of you confirmed your appreciation of Demise Stranding 2’s potent combine of evocative landscapes, sci-fi design and excellent character fashions.
However it was Ghost of Yōtei’s jaw-dropping foliage density, beautiful use of ray tracing and wealthy element with each facet of life in Ezo that noticed the most help as gamers named it the most graphically spectacular PlayStation title of 2025.
Finest Artwork Route
Platinum Trophy: Ghost of Yōtei
Gold Trophy: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Silver Trophy: Hole Knight: Silksong
Bronze Trophy: Silent Hill f
The various work of the Finest Artwork Route’s prime 4 spoke to creators with robust visions when fashioning their respective digital worlds. Silent Hill f wrapped the horror franchise’s hooks with the myths and tradition of Sixties Japan, turning a peaceable small city right into a labyrinth of terror. Crew Cherry conceived a wholly new, equally charming insect kingdom in Silksong’s oppressive Pharloom, making each nook and denizen – harmful or in any other case – a must-see. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s painterly look drew inspiration from a number of artwork types to dazzling impact, and made an amazing excuse to fireplace up the recreation’s Picture Mode.
But it’s Ghost of Yōtei you voted on to take the prime spot. Sucker Punch, constructing on successes of Ghost of Tsushima and an ever-growing confidence in using PS5 {hardware}, who usual an evocative snapshot of the rural wilderness of 1600s Japan that calls for to be explored.
Finest Audio Design
Platinum Trophy: Ghost of Yōtei
Gold Trophy: Demise Stranding 2: On the Seashore
Silver Trophy: Battlefield 6
Bronze Trophy: Hole Knight: Silksong
Nice audio design solidifies the world round you, combining SFX, 3D audio, music and extra, making you’re feeling relaxed, elated or fearful immediately. Your picks for class winners are exemplary at this. The sound of a distant chant helps provide you with course by way of an unexplored nook of Pharloom in Silksong. Choosing out the stomp of approaching threats amidst a symphony of harmful explosions and crackle of gunfire in Battlefield 6. The roar of a sandstorm or the howls of BTs twisting your intestine in Demise Stranding 2.
And for Platinum winner Ghost of Yōtei, it’s how Sucker Punch introduced the sounds of Japan to life. Not simply wildlife and fauna, however the crunch of swords, or the twang of the shamisen reverberating out of the DualSense controller’s speaker, and the sound of the wind whipping round you that make the Ezo really feel like an actual place ready to be explored.
Finest Soundtrack
Platinum Trophy: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Gold Trophy: Ghost of Yōtei
Silver Trophy: Demise Stranding 2: On the Seashore
Bronze Trophy: Hole Knight: Silksong
Lots of nice music caught your ear in 2025, with robust contenders – and voting – on this class. Finally your decisions landed on 4 distinct scores. Christopher Larkin returned to Hole Knight’s underworld for one more acclaimed atmospheric rating that helped outline Silksong’s sprawling areas and its solid. Equally Ludvig Forssell, alongside a star-studded lineup of artists, returned to Demise Stranding 2 to outline its soundscape as soon as extra. Composer Toma Otowa saved Ghost of Yōtei’s soundtrack powerfully genuine with Japanese instrumentation (and a nod to the low-fi beats produced for the recreation’s Watanabe Mode in collaboration with Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichirō Watanabe).
But it was Lorien Testard’s work on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 that caught most ears. Its music showcased a powerful vary, from unapologetically funky character themes to stripped-back spoken phrase, sweeping orchestral preparations, and Alice Duport-Percier’s hovering vocals. Expertly woven by way of the recreation, it’s a rating that you just determined most deserved this yr’s Platinum.
Finest Accessibility Options
Platinum Trophy: Ghost of Yōtei
Gold Trophy: Battlefield 6
Silver Trophy: Murderer’s Creed Shadows
Bronze Trophy: Break up Fiction
Builders continued to emphasise accessibility options in 2025 in myriad methods, and your votes confirmed your appreciation for creators’ efforts on this space. Battlefield 6 added controls for tinnitus-like sounds, Murderer’s Creed Shadows included tone indicators for its subtitles, and Break up Fiction allowed gamers to skip tough fight and platforming sections.
However taking the win this yr is Ghost of Yōtei, which took all the nice options from Ghost of Tsushima and added in much more – from visible assists to assist assaults stand out, to alternate-input choices for contact and movement controls.
Finest Use of DualSense
Platinum Trophy: Ghost of Yōtei
Gold Trophy: Demise Stranding 2: On the Seashore
Silver Trophy: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Bronze Trophy: Battlefield 6
Builders flexed their rising familiarity with PS5’s distinctive {hardware} options in 2025. Battlefield 6’s weapons felt distinct because of adaptive triggers translating set off pull and recoil to the gamers’ palms, when you felt the impression of explosions with the DualSense controller’s haptic suggestions. Related suggestions immersed you in the rhythm of Expedition 33’s fight, whereas Demise Stranding 2 transported you into Sam’s sneakers, mimicking the trudge by way of snow or mud, the pull of heavy cargo, and extra.
All that mentioned, voters threw the majority of their weight behind Ghost of Yotei’s DualSense controller implementation. Be it quality-of-life shortcuts, interactive moments akin to tenting, or the conflict of metal throughout fight, hats off to Sucker Punch for one more title cleverly tapping into distinctive PlayStation options.
Finest Rerelease (Remaster)
Platinum Trophy: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Gold Trophy: Days Gone Remastered
Silver Trophy: Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered
Bronze Trophy: Last Fantasy Ways – The Ivalice Chronicles
A decent race for the coveted Platinum prize noticed The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered finally take the crown. This enhanced model of the seminal 2006 RPG benefitted from massively upgraded visuals and polish, as did Bend Studios’ replace to fan favourite Days Gone. Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered and Last Fantasy Ways – The Ivalice Chronicles additionally noticed robust help in Game of the Year Awards voting.
Finest Multiplayer Expertise
Platinum Trophy: Battlefield 6
Gold Trophy: Arc Raiders
Silver Trophy: Marvel Rivals
Bronze Trophy: Break up Fiction
Battlefield 6’s action-packed, large-scale multiplayer battles struck a nerve with PS5 gamers, incomes an enormous Platinum trophy for Battlefield Studios. Hotshot Arc Raiders additionally noticed robust help in the polls, with players appreciating its contemporary tackle the extraction shooter style. Marvel Rivals and Break up Fiction took the Silver and Bronze prizes, demonstrating the sturdy depth and breadth of multiplayer experiences launched over the previous yr.
Finest Ongoing Game
Platinum Trophy: Genshin Impression
Gold Trophy: Marvel Rivals
Silver Trophy: Fortnite
Bronze Trophy: Honkai: Star Rail
Finest Ongoing Game recognises these video games whose authentic launch could also be years previous, however who proceed to please gamers with large new content material packs and seasonal updates to maintain gameplay contemporary and followers guessing what’s subsequent. Launched solely final yr, younger buck Marvel Rivals has already made its mark on the multiplayer panorama, rubbing shoulders with established titan Fortnite, which continued to supply unbelievable crossover occasions with large identify IPs and expanded its gameplay choices.
In the finish, writer MiHoYo pulled off that rarest of wins, incomes two trophies in a single class, because of your votes for 2 of their ongoing titles: Bronze for Honkai: Star Rail, and Platinum for Genshin Impression.
Finest Enlargement
Platinum Trophy: Lies of P: Overture
Gold Trophy: Helldivers 2: Coronary heart of Democracy
Silver Trophy: Murderer’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji
Bronze Trophy: Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle – The Order of Giants
Whereas many expansions proceed the adventures of core characters, Platinum trophy winner Lies of P: Overture took a distinct strategy, in the type of a large prequel that fills in the story previous to the occasions of the most important recreation. That slimmer body nonetheless boasted a whole package deal, distilling down what made the most important recreation attractive, together with a cavalcade of new difficult bosses to additional sharpen your combat-honed abilities on.
Your votes went to different deserving winners as properly: Helldivers 2 stunned gamers by placing them on backfoot as they fought on (and for) the streets of Tremendous Earth in Coronary heart of Democracy. Indy’s journey in Rome expanded to fold in one other historical thriller by manner of The Order of the Giants enlargement, whereas Claws of Awaji sated Murderer’s Creed Shadows gamers anticipating extra ninja and samurai motion.
Finest Sports activities Game
Platinum Trophy: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Gold Trophy: Forza Horizon 5
Silver Trophy: EA Sports activities FC 26
Bronze Trophy: Rematch
The all-star solid and reality-bending programs of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds took the checkered flag this yr, with fellow racer Forza Horizon 5 not far behind. EA Sports activities FC and newcomer Rematch rounded out the checklist, with every representing completely different expressions of The World’s Game.
Finest Impartial Game
Platinum Trophy: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Gold Trophy: Hole Knight: Silksong
Silver Trophy: Dispatch
Bronze Trophy: Prepared or Not
These smaller groups yielded large outcomes! The majority of your votes weighed in the direction of titles that included intelligent gameplay hooks or distinctive shows to make for brand spanking new and thrilling experiences. From the huge world of Clair Obscur, to the superheroic drama of Dispatch, these imaginative indies show the future of gaming lies in innovation and considerate iteration.
Finest PS VR2 Game
Platinum Trophy: Alien: Rogue Incursion
Gold Trophy: Hitman World of Assassination
Silver Trophy: The Midnight Stroll
Bronze Trophy: Zombie Military VR
Survios struck black goo with its virtuoso VR tackle the iconic Alien sequence, which scored the Platinum award regardless of a good race with IO Interactive’s Hitman: World of Assassination. The Midnight Stroll’s moody journey and Zombie Military VR’s red-meat fight additionally acquired acknowledged as being amongst the greatest of 2025’s PS VR2 choices.
Finest PS4 Game
Platinum Trophy: Hole Knight: Silksong
Gold Trophy: Elden Ring Nightreign
Silver Trophy: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Bronze Trophy: Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 7
Recognised with Bronze, Silver, and Gold trophies throughout different classes, it’s in Finest PS4 Game that Hole Knight: Silksong claims the Platinum. Crew Cherry’s totally charming and tensely difficult 2D platformer wasn’t with out staunch competitors, from FromSoftware’s multiplayer tackle its acclaimed Elden Ring sequence, the contemporary spin on arcade racing dynasty in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and the heavyweight of Name of Responsibility returning to the PS4 frontlines with Black Ops 7.
Finest PS5 Game
Platinum Trophy: Ghost of Yōtei
Gold Trophy: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Silver Trophy: Demise Stranding 2: On the Seashore
Bronze Trophy: Arc Raiders
In a yr full of acclaimed video games, it’d be powerful to choose a shortlist. And that proved true for Finest PS5 Game, which noticed your votes practically evenly break up all through the entire interval of the polls being open. It was solely in the closing hours that the profitable order was solidified. Although a later launch this yr, Arc Raiders rapidly attracted loads of warmth, spawning quite a few gameplay clips and tales by gamers detailing slender wins and shock betrayals. Demise Stranding 2’s suite of new and retooled mechanics made Sam Bridges’ largest challenges a pleasure for gamers to expertise, whereas Expedition 33 discovered a novel groove in its tackle turn-based fight, and mixed it with a narrative and world that has electrified many of you.
Following a good race, in the finish, the Platinum went to Ghost of Yōtei. Sucker Punch’s sophomore effort improved on each facet of the first recreation, then layered on prime of that new options, a brand new solid, and new story.
Studio of the Year
Platinum Trophy: Kojima Productions
Gold Trophy: Sandfall Interactive
Silver Trophy: Sucker Punch Productions
Bronze Trophy: Crew Cherry
As we tally up the votes, it’s clear that a number of studios have left an indelible mark on 2025. Sandfall Interactive’s debut showcased their absolute confidence of their identification, whereas Sucker Punch and Crew Cherry launched vastly anticipated adventures to important acclaim.
Nevertheless, it was Kojima Productions who claimed the Platinum trophy for Studio of the Year after the launch of Demise Stranding 2 and a ‘spherical the world’ tour to showcase their work. Whereas the recreation reached new and present followers alike, the studio tapped into popular culture, connecting them with their viewers on a degree few studios can obtain.
Most Anticipated Game of 2026 and Past
Platinum Trophy: Marvel’s Wolverine
Gold Trophy: Resident Evil Requiem
Silver Trophy: 007 First Gentle
Bronze Trophy: LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Darkish Knight
In recent times, the Most Anticipated Game class has confirmed to be the most fiercely fought of the complete awards. This yr was no completely different, with an intensive checklist of new video games to stay up for, and also you exhibiting your pleasure for all with votes solid far and huge, and the most write-in votes of the complete awards.
But the race was significantly tight between the prime two placements. The remaining end result? Resident Evil Requiem earns Gold, nevertheless it’s Marvel’s Wolverine that takes the Platinum this yr.