Fair Dinkum: Game Rant's Community Called The 2025 GOTY Before The Awards Even Started!
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Game Rant's community showcased remarkable foresight, accurately predicting *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* as the 2025 Game of the Year, while also championing beloved titles that weren't even officially nominated.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're messing around with a new spell, kinda expecting a spark, but instead, you accidentally summon a dragon that perfectly predicts the future? That’s pretty much what happened over at Game Rant, it seems. Their readers, bless 'em, have apparently got a crystal ball polished brighter than my monitor after a marathon gaming session, because they absolutely nailed the 2025 Game of the Year winner. Fair dinkum, these folks are good.
The big gong, the shiny prize, the one that makes devs either pop champagne or frantically update their CVs, went to *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*. And not just that, mate, it swept almost every other award it was up for. A truly historic performance. But here's the kicker: before the confetti cannons even warmed up, Game Rant threw out a poll, asking their community to pick the victor. And lo and behold, *Clair Obscur* was their overwhelming favourite, bagging nearly half the votes – 46% out of 654 total, to be precise. It wasn't even close!
Now, this isn't just a lucky guess, is it? This wasn't some bloke chucking a dart at a board blindfolded. This was a whole community, collectively, with a singular vision. It makes you wonder if they've all been brewing some special digital tea leaves, or perhaps they're just incredibly attuned to the gaming zeitgeist. My money's on a bit of both, honestly. It’s like watching a guild of prophecy experts, rather than just a bunch of gamers. And honestly, it’s a brilliant testament to the power of community insight. You can't fool a passionate player base, can you?
The poll itself was pretty comprehensive, too. Game Rant didn't just give the official nominees; they also threw in an "Other" option for those splendid games that, for whatever cosmic reason, just missed out on the top six spots. That's a clever touch, allowing for a broader reflection of what players were genuinely excited about. And believe me, that "Other" category pulled in some serious weight, but we'll get to that wizardry in a moment.
Of course, coming in a solid second place in the community's heart, with a respectable 15% of the votes, was the legendary *Hollow Knight: Silksong*. Ah, *Silksong*. The game that's been anticipated so long it feels like it’s been marinating in a time-dilation chamber. Seven years of development, speculation, fan theories, and enough anticipation to break pretty much all the storefronts on the internet when the release date was finally announced. Now *that's* dedication, both from Team Cherry (our Aussie mates, by the way!) and the patient, patient fans. To impress tenfold after that kind of build-up? That’s magic, pure and simple. It’s a classic example of when the hype *actually* delivers.
But here’s where things get really interesting, mate. Snagging the third most popular spot in the poll wasn't another nominated game. Oh no. It was the "Other" option – games that weren't even on the official GOTY ballot! With 14% of the votes, that's a significant chunk of change. We're talking about titles like *Dispatch*, *Blue Prince*, *PEAK*, and even the big AAA guns like *Mario Kart World* and *Battlefield 6*. Bloody hell, the community basically stood up and said, "Thanks for the list, but we've got our own secret stash of bangers!"
This, for me, is the real gold. It’s a gentle reminder that while the official awards are all glitz and glamour, the true heart of gaming often beats strongest in the titles that capture imaginations outside the spotlight. It speaks volumes about the sheer quality of games we were blessed with in 2025. It wasn't just a good year; it was a *phenomenal* year, overflowing with brilliant titles, some of which clearly deserved more attention than they got from the official panels. It's the wild card, the unexpected spell, the quiet indie gem that blows your mind – and the community spotted it.
Bringing up the rear of the nominated games, but still putting in a solid showing, were *Kingdom Come: Deliverance II*, followed closely by *Death Stranding 2: On The Beach*, *Donkey Kong Bananza*, and *Hades II*. Now, any other year, these four could have easily been fighting for the top spot. They're heavy hitters, each brilliant in their own right, bringing unique experiences to the table. *Kingdom Come* for its incredible historical immersion, *Death Stranding 2* for Kojima's inimitable vision, *Donkey Kong Bananza* (which sounds like an absolute riot, let's be honest!), and *Hades II* continuing the legacy of one of the best roguelikes ever made. But 2025, it seems, belonged to *Clair Obscur*.
So, what does this all mean, eh? Beyond *Clair Obscur*'s well-deserved victory and the fact that *Silksong* finally delivered (phew!), it’s a ringing endorsement for the collective intelligence of the gaming community. When you give players a voice, not just about who *should* win, but also about what hidden gems they loved, you get a much richer tapestry of the gaming year. It highlights that the "true" GOTY isn't always the one with the biggest marketing budget or the most nominations; sometimes, it's the one the players connect with most deeply.
And speaking of "true" GOTY, Game Rant is now asking its community to vote for *their* Game Rant Community Game of the Year. Which, if you ask me, is exactly the right move. After all, who better to decide the best games than the folks who actually spend their hard-earned cash and precious time playing them?
It just goes to show, mate, never underestimate the collective wisdom of a bunch of gamers. They've got an uncanny knack for spotting gold, sometimes even before the official prospectors do. And that, my friends, is a kind of magic I can absolutely get behind. What a year for games, and what a bunch of clever clogs in the Game Rant community!
(Original article by Tim Lord for Game Rant.)
Tags: GameOfTheYear, GamingCommunity, PlayerPredictions, ClairObscur, HollowKnightSilksong
Original article: Game Rant