The Game Awards has steadily grown in popularity year by year, becoming gaming's version of the Oscars and something that both developers and actors are proud to be a part of. For the last few years, there has been fierce competition for the top prizes in gaming, whether that be the pitched battle between 2022's Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarök, or 2020's The Last of Us Part 2 and Ghost of Tsushima. Next year, the battle might be over before it has begun, with one of gaming's most anticipated titles slated for release in 2025.

There have been years in the past where a clear winner has emerged from the pack, such as 2023's Baldur's Gate 3 being beyond anything else released that year, but BG3's clean sweep of many awards wasn't assured the year before its release. The Most Anticipated Game Award is a good place to look when trying to predict which titles will rock the gaming world, and one name has come on constantly ever since its announcement. Grand Theft Auto 6 might make the 2025 Game Awards nothing more than a procession.

TGA 2025 Already Has A Clear GOTY Winner

GTA 6 Will Dominate The Awards

Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 probably has a claim to being the most anticipated game of all time, and Rockstar's stellar track record indicates that it will live up to these immense standards. It isn't just the quality of the game that will smash the award season, but also the sheer number of sales and player numbers it will pull by its reputation. Plenty of great games get snubbed at the awards due to a lack of attention, but GTA 6 will likely have both the quality, because of Rockstar's consistency, and attention, because of how big the IP is.

GTA 6 doesn't have a confirmed release date, but it is aiming for the Fall 2025 window.

GTA 6 would have to disappoint massively to not win Game of the Year, but this isn't the only award it could win. Rockstar is famous for its narratives and will probably win the award there, as well as the Game Direction award. Manni L. Perez, who plays Lucia, could win Best Performance, and Audio Design is up for grabs too. GTA 6 could win every award it is nominated for next year due to its reputation and number of players, especially since voting has some sway on the awards, and it will probably win the Player's Voice award too.

What Competition Does GTA 6 Have For 2025 Awards?

2025 Is A Big Year For Gaming

Plenty of massive games are coming out in 2025. Monster Hunter Wilds' beta test proved that plenty will play the game and will likely contend for the Best Action Game award, while Elden Ring Nightreign, Borderlands 4, Avowed, and The Outer Wilds 2 are candidates for rounding out the main nominees. All of these games could be massive in their own right and win some awards, with Avowed and The Outer Wilds 2 feeling like sure nominations for the Best RPG, but many will likely find themselves second best compared to GTA 6.

The only games that will be safe from Grand Theft Auto 6's likely reign of terror at The Game Awards in 2025 are the indie titles and fighting games, which GTA 6 won't be able to win awards for because of its genre. Although there have already been huge titles this decade, like Baldur's Gate 3 and Elden Ring, if GTA 6 sticks the landing, which Rockstar's track record implies it will, it could be the biggest game of the 2020s. It certainly has the hype behind it to earn this title and could dominate 2025 before it has even begun.