2025 Indie Game Award Nominations Revealed

As one can expect, the biggest hits from the independent sphere are well-represented across multiple categories, with Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 being nominated in several categories. Other notable titles such as Artis Impact—and the 2025 winner of the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the Independent Games Festival, Consume Me—are also making a splash with multiple nominations. 

A number of new categories have been added this year to better showcase diverse voices in games from around the world. These categories are curated by Latin American Games Showcase, Women-Led Games, and Black Voices in Gaming. Players can now also submit their favorite games in a new Community Picks segment, and five developers who “represent the future of the industry” are being celebrated through the Indie Vanguard Class. 

Other special categories include the Mohammad Fahmi Storyteller Award, which recognizes an “exceptional storyteller” in games, and the Industry Impact Award for an individual or organization that has made notable positive contributions to the industry. 

The complete list of nominees, presenters, and judges can be found at the official Indie Game Awards website. The 2025 Indie Game Awards will premiere on Dec. 18 at 3:30pm PT / 6:30pm ET, and can be streamed via Six One Indie’s YouTube and Twitch channels, as well as on IGN and GameSpot. Players who wish to submit their favorites of the year for the Community Picks category can do so on the official IGA website as well.