2025 Winners Press Release
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins 2025 Game of the Year from NAVGTR®
Blue Prince and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound win game design awards
Baltimore (March 11, 2026) / NAVGTR CORP. – The National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers®, a 501(c)(3) non-profit media organization of 547 media voters and 15,180 subscribers, has announced winners for its twenty-fifth annual awards program honoring video game design and programming.
Developers to win this year include Hideo Kojima, Tonda Ros, Michel Nohra, Jason Connell, Hugo Martin, Guillaume Broche, and Evan Eubanks. The NAVGTR® Awards honor work in 50 competitive categories recognizing achievement in animation, art, character design, controls, game design, engineering, musical score, sound effects, writing, and more. Since its inception, the academy has nominated over 7,545 talented individuals and awarded 1,278 winners.
Game of the Year nominees won multiple awards. Blue Prince won for Game Design (New IP) and Puzzle Game. Split Fiction won for Camera Direction and Control Design (3D). Hollow Knight: Silksong won for Franchise Family Game. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach won for Art Direction (Contemporary), Direction in a Game Cinema, Graphics (Technical), Dramatic Score (Franchise), Performance in a Drama (Lead), Song, and Sound Editing. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won for Animation (Technical), Costume Design, Original Role Playing, Dramatic Score (New IP), Performance in a Drama (Supporting), Use of Sound (New IP), Writing in a Drama, and Game of the Year. The total of 8 awards was the highest for the year.
Original properties that won awards include South of Midnight, Keeper, Split Fiction, Blue Prince, ARC Raiders, Dispatch, Ball x Pit, Skate Story, Bye Sweet Carole, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Together, original properties won 46% or nearly half of all awards.
Sandfall won the most awards as developer, followed closely by Kojima Productions. Sony Interactive Entertainment won the most awards as publisher, followed closely by Smilegate and Kepler Interactive.
Last year, with his fourth career win, Troy Baker (Indiana Jones) broke his tie with Laura Bailey as NAVGTR’s most awarded voice performer. This year, all winning performers were first-time NAVGTR Award winners: Aaron Paul, Matthew Mercer, Norman Reedus, and Ben Starr.
Number of Awards Won per Game
08 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
07 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
04 DOOM: The Dark Ages
04 Dispatch
02 Split Fiction
02 South of Midnight
02 Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
02 Hades 2
02 Ghost of Yōtei
02 Blue Prince
Number of Awards Won per Development Studio
08 Sandfall
07 Kojima Productions
04 id Software
04 AdHoc Studio
02 The Game Kitchen
02 Supergiant Games
02 Sucker Punch
02 Hazelight
02 Dogubomb
02 Compulsion Games
Number of Awards Won per Publisher
09 Sony Interactive Entertainment
08 Smilegate
08 Kepler Interactive
04 Bethesda Softworks
04 AdHoc Studio
03 Xbox Game Studios
Number of Awards Won per Individual
02 Woodkid
02 Tonda Ros
02 Michel Nohra
02 Jason Connell
02 Hugo Martin
02 Hideo Kojima
02 Guillaume Broche
02 Evan Eubanks
Franchise History
Mario Kart World brings the Mario universe to a grand total of 34 wins.
MARVEL games have 20 wins to date.
The Ghost of Tsushima series has 16 wins to date.
The DOOM franchise has 14 wins to date.
The Death Stranding series has 12 wins to date.
Metroid games have 7 wins to date.
Silent Hill games have 6 wins to date.
Sid Meier’s Civilization games have 4 wins to date.
The Hades franchise has 4 wins to date.
The Dragon Quest franchise has 4 wins to date.
The Ninja Gaiden series has 3 wins to date.
Hollow Knight games have 2 wins to date.
For a complete list of categories, nominees, and winners, please visit https://navgtr.org. Follow @navgtr on twitter.
Key Dates for NAVGTR® Awards
November 23, 2026 – Entries due
January 27, 2027 – Nominations announced
February 14, 2027 – Late deadline for engraver credits
March 10, 2027 – Winners announced
MEDIA ASSETS
Press Kit: https://navgtr.org/press-kit/
All titles, characters, likenesses, and indicia are copyrights or trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
About NAVGTR CORP.
NAVGTR Corp.(TM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation devoted to promoting and recognizing game developers.
The general voting body of reviewers, journalists, analysts, content creators, and writers includes contributors for Destructoid, EGM Now, Game Rant, Gamers Temple, GamesIndustry.biz, Gamespot, IGN, Investor’s Business Daily, Kotaku, Mashable, Massively, MMORPG, MSNBC, Nintendo World Report, PC Gamer, Polygon, The Koalition, Ten Ton Hammer, Terminal Gamer, and Venture Beat.
Additional varied outlets include Austin American-Statesman, Chicago Sun-Times, CNN, COIN-OP TV, GamesRadar, Los Angeles Times, Moody’s, NBC, New York Times, NTN24, The Ottawa Citizen, San Jose Mercury-News, USA Today, The Vancouver Sun, Wired News, and hundreds more.
Complete List of Winners
Animation, Artistic
Bye Sweet Carole
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Hades 2
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
South of Midnight – WINNER
Animation, Technical
The Alters
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Ghost of Yōtei
Silent Hill f
Split Fiction
Art Direction, Contemporary
The Alters
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – WINNER
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
South of Midnight
Art Direction, Fantasy
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Keeper – WINNER
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Split Fiction
Art Direction, Period Influence
Anno 117: Pax Romana
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream
Ghost of Yōtei – WINNER
Mafia: The Old Country
The Outer Worlds 2
Camera Direction in a Game Engine
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Ghost of Yōtei
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Split Fiction – WINNER
Character Design
Dispatch
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Ghost of Yōtei
South of Midnight – WINNER
Split Fiction
Control Design, 2D or Limited 3D/VR
Blade Chimera
Hades 2 – WINNER
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Terminator 2D: NO FATE
Control Design, 3D
Borderlands 4
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Herdling
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Split Fiction – WINNER
Control Precision
Donkey Kong Bananza
DOOM: The Dark Ages – WINNER
Mario Kart World
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Costume Design
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & The Envisioned Land
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Ghost of Yōtei
Monster Hunter Wilds
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers
Direction in a Game Cinema
The Alters
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – WINNER
Dispatch
Ghost of Yōtei
Mafia: The Old Country
Engineering
DOOM: The Dark Ages – WINNER
Ghost of Yōtei
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Split Fiction
Game of the Year
The Alters
Blue Prince
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Split Fiction
Game, Classic Revival
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake – WINNER
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection
Game, Fighting
Demon Slayer –Kimetsu No Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion – WINNER
Virtua Fighter 5 REVO
WWE 2K25
Game, Franchise Action
Borderlands 4
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
DOOM: The Dark Ages – WINNER
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Terminator 2D: NO FATE
Game, Franchise Adventure
Ghost of Yōtei – WINNER
Mafia: The Old Country
No Sleep for Kaname Date: From AI: The Somnium Files
The Rogue Prince of Persia
Silent Hill f
Game, Franchise Family
Donkey Kong Bananza
Hollow Knight: Silksong – WINNER
Once Upon a Katamari
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Game, Franchise Role Playing
Digimon Story: Time Stranger
Elden Ring Nightreign
Hades 2 – WINNER
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
The Outer Worlds 2
Game, Original Action
The Alters
ARC Raiders – WINNER
Blade Chimera
The First Berserker: Khazan
Split Fiction
Game, Original Adventure
Bye Sweet Carole
Dispatch – WINNER
The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-
The Midnight Walk
Sword of the Sea
Game, Original Family
Born of Bread
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo
Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club – WINNER
Star Overdrive
Sunderfolk
Game, Original Role Playing
Avowed
Cabernet
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Deltarune: Chapters 3+4
Demonschool
Game, Puzzle
Blue Prince – WINNER
Is This Seat Taken?
Lumines Arise
The Roottrees are Dead
Time Flies
Game, Racing
EA SPORTS F1 25
Kirby Air Riders
Mario Kart World – WINNER
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Launch Edition
Wheel World
Game, Rhythm
Fresh Tracks
Rift of the NecroDancer – WINNER
Unbeatable
Game, Simulation
Baby Steps
Consume Me
Jurassic World Evolution 3
Promise Mascot Agency
Two Point Museum – WINNER
Game, Special Class
Ball x Pit – WINNER
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Despelote
No, I’m not a Human
Old Skies
Game, Sports
Drag x Drive
MLB The Show 25
NBA 2K26
Rematch
Skate Story – WINNER
Game, Strategy
Anno 117: Pax Romana
Death Howl
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles
Monster Train 2
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – WINNER
Gameplay Design, Franchise
Ghost of Yōtei
Hades 2
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound – WINNER
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
Gameplay Design, New IP
The Alters
Blue Prince – WINNER
Goodnight Universe
Is This Seat Taken?
Ready or Not
Graphics, Technical
The Alters
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – WINNER
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Ghost of Yōtei
Lighting/Texturing
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
DOOM: The Dark Ages – WINNER
Ghost of Yōtei
Little Nightmares III
South of Midnight
Original Dramatic Score, Franchise
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – WINNER
Ghost of Yōtei
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
The Outer Worlds 2
Original Dramatic Score, New IP
The Alters
Blades of Fire
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Sword of the Sea
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers
Original Light Mix Score, Franchise
Borderlands 4
Cladun X3
Hades 2
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound – WINNER
Octopath Traveler 0
The Rogue Prince of Persia
Original Light Mix Score, New IP
Blue Prince
Bye Sweet Carole – WINNER
Demonschool
Hotel Barcelona
South of Midnight
Performance in a Comedy, Lead
Dispatch – Aaron Paul as “Robert Robertson” – WINNER
Hotel Barcelona – Mayu Udono as “Justine Bernstein”
The Outer Worlds 2 – April Stewart as “Auntie Cleo”
Performance in a Comedy, Supporting
Dispatch – Laura Bailey as “Invisigal”
Dispatch – Matthew Mercer as “Shroud” – WINNER
Dispatch – Thot Squad as “Prism”
Hotel Barcelona – Hidetaka Tenjin as “Doctor Carnival”
Marvel Rivals – Cassandra Lee Morris as “Galacta”
Performance in a Drama, Lead
Bye Sweet Carole – Elsie Lovelock as “Lana Benton”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Charlie Cox as “Gustave”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Jennifer English as “Maelle”
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – Norman Reedus as “Sam” – WINNER
Ghost of Yōtei – Erika Ishii as “Atsu”
Performance in a Drama, Supporting
Bye Sweet Carole – Anthony Ingruber as “Mr. Kyn”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Andy Serkis as “Renoir”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Ben Starr as “Verso” – WINNER
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – Troy Baker as “Higgs”
Hades 2 – Judy Alice Lee as “Melinoë”
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 – Jane Perry as “Lou Graham”
Song, Original or Adapted
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Alicia
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Lumière
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – To The Wilder – WINNER
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – The Veil
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Live Gloriously
South of Midnight – Altamaha-ha
Sound Editing in a Game Cinema
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – WINNER
Ghost of Yōtei
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Mafia: The Old Country
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Sound Effects
The Alters
Atomfall
Ghost of Yōtei
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – WINNER
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers
Use of Sound, Franchise
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Little Nightmares III
NASCAR 25
Silent Hill f – WINNER
Use of Sound, New IP
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Keeper
The Midnight Walk
Pacific Drive
Promise Mascot Agency
Writing in a Comedy
Dispatch – WINNER
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Marvel’s Deadpool VR
The Outer Worlds 2
Revenge of the Savage Planet
Writing in a Drama
The Alters
Bye Sweet Carole
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
Number of Awards Won
By Game
08 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
07 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
04 DOOM: The Dark Ages
04 Dispatch
02 Split Fiction
02 South of Midnight
02 Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
02 Hades 2
02 Ghost of Yōtei
02 Blue Prince
By Developer
08 Sandfall
07 Kojima Productions
04 id Software
04 AdHoc Studio
02 The Game Kitchen
02 Supergiant Games
02 Sucker Punch
02 Hazelight
02 Dogubomb
02 Compulsion Games
By Publisher
09 Sony Interactive Entertainment
08 Smilegate
08 Kepler Interactive
04 Bethesda Softworks
04 AdHoc Studio
03 Xbox Game Studios
03 DotEmu
02 Supergiant Games
02 Raw Fury
02 Nintendo
02 Electronic Arts
02 Devolver Digital
Persons with Multiple Wins
02 Woodkid
02 Tonda Ros
02 Michel Nohra
02 Jason Connell
02 Hugo Martin
02 Hideo Kojima
02 Guillaume Broche
02 Evan Eubanks
All Individual Credits (per award)
Aaron Paul
Abraham Morales
Alan Reynaud
Alice Lai
Amir Rao
Andrew Frederiksen
Ari Gibson
Ben Starr
Billy Khan
Bogdan Coroi
Brian Fleming
Chad Emond
Charles da Cunha Marcolim Jr.
Corey Chan
Dennis Lenart
Dennis Shirk
Derrick Espino
Ed Beach
Eduardo Gorinstein
Emerson Tung
Evan Eubanks
Evan Eubanks
Francesco Baldini
Frédéric Gémus
Gavin Simon
Guillaume Broche
Guillaume Broche
Hayasaka Masaaki
Hideo Kojima
Hideo Kojima
Hiroyuki Nakayama
Hugo Martin
Hugo Martin
Jason Connell
Jason Connell
Jason Martin
Jennifer Svedberg-Yen
Joanna Wang
Joao Bragato
John Powell
Justin Scott Wilson
Kaori Nakabai
Keiji Yamagishi
Kenny Sun
Kevin Chiasson
Kosuke Yabuki
Laurie Jezequel
Lee Petty
Lorien Testard
Luca Balboni
Ludvig Forssell
Marty Stratton
Matthew Mercer
Maxance Playez
Michel Nohra
Michel Nohra
Miguel Moreno Sánchez
Miguel Murat
Mike Jungbluth
Nate Fox
Neil Johnson
Nicholas Clark
Nicholas Maxson-Francombe
Nick Herman
Norman Reedus
Per Stenbeck
Peter Sokal
Pierre Shorette
Raphaël Joffres
Ray Khalastchi
Remi Edmond
Rémi Lavoie
Robert Arlauskas
Ryan Watkins
Ryuichi Niita
Sam Eng
Sebastien Dussault
Sergio de Prado
Shintaro Jikumaru
Shota Hirasawa
Takayuki Uchida
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Tiago Sousa
Tonda Ros
Tonda Ros
Tristan Fleury
Vincent Schneider
Virginia Martín
Whitney Clayton
William Pellen
William Schilthuis
Woodkid
Woodkid
Yoji Shinkawa