It’s a new year, and that means the GOTY clock gets reset. The cards are being sh𒈔uffled, the wheel is being spun, the coins are dropping into slots, and the gambling metaphors are getting increasingly strained. It’s time to look ahead to what might win GOTY in 2025.

I’m not concerned with what might get the highest score, the most sales, or even what will win at 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:The Game Awards. I’m fairly confident that the answer for all three is GTA 6. Instead, I’m looking at what could win 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:TheGamer’s GOTY, wit🍎h odds provided to highlight how likel🐽y each one might be.

You can’t actually bet on this, but if you want to send me money just because y♎ou love me, that would be swell.

Any Game Not Mentioned Here - 100/30

Though it’s rare, I have been known to be wrong, so I’m covering my bases here. While I’m including the games I consider most noteworthy, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the sheer mass of gaﷺme൲s launching in 2025 means only a tiny fraction of a percent are present. The potential element of surprise can also work in a game’s favour, as we saw with our 2024 runner up Balatro, as well as previous winners 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Citizen Sleeper and 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:The Forgotten City.

It’s tough to call the race before it starts, so I havᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚe to admit it’s just as likely a game I haven’t thought of (maybe ꦕa game I haven’t even heard of) snatches the crown from the pre-race favourites.

The Next Mario - 9/2

We don’t know for certain that a new Mario game is coming in 2025, but I think it’s a lock. We haven’t had a new 3D Mario since 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Odyssey arrived in the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Switch’s launch year, a𓃲nd it stands to reaso♒n that as a new console launches, so does a new Mario.

Despite the question mark over its existence and arrival date, I’m installing it as favourite for the crown. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Astro Bot won our 💙GOTY this year, and if we do get a new Mario, it will almost ꦍcertainly be the Astro Bottiest game of the year. That could make it TheGamer’s Game of the Year too.

Ghost Of Yotei - 7/1

I don’t know what to tell you. I just feel it in my bones that 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Ghost of Yotei is going to be a smash hit. I liked Tsushima enough but it seemed like the series had a much higher ceiling, and 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Yotei could reach it. If it does, it could be in line for the reason developers get out of bed in the morning - TheGamer’s Game 🐲of the Year award.

I don’t always feel this way about 🌼Sony exclusives. In fact, I’m often deeply wary of Sony’s increasingly similar cinematic experiences. There’s just something about Yotei that I want to like, and I hope that faith is justified come the end of the year.

Grand Theft Auto 6 - 10/1

The obvious front-runner for GOTY at The Game Awards (168澳洲幸运5开奖网:having just ‘won’ Most Anticipated) is still near the front for us. While I expect it to be very good indeed, I’m not entirely sure if TheGamer’💦s GOTY vote system works in its favour. Since every edꦑitor here gets an equal vote, I suspect just as many will skip GTA entirely as will play it.

We saw 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Elden Ring drop into second place in 2022 for largely the same reason. The whole-site cross section method of doing GOTY has its ups and downs, but the fact our winner is not the foregone conclusion it might otherwise be is definitely a positive. PS I always liked Red Dead better anyway.

I'm still not entirely sure what I make of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:a potential delay into 2026, so I don't want to make the odds too generous.

Any Other Switch Launch Title - 12/1

Aside from Pokemon and Metroid, both of which have been announced, I’m 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:not sure what the Sﷺwitch 2 will launch with. Mario aside, nothing much seems nailed on. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Mario Kart, maybe, but I doubt that's got the GOTY juice.

Still, whatever it i𝔉s, I expect the follow up to the Switch will pick up where the last one left off and launch with a strong library. Whatever games are in the mix, a GOTY contender is sure to be🐽 among them.

Doom: The Dark Ages - 18/1

This is the game most people at the site seem actively excited for. Eric Switzer even had the trailer on his ‘168澳洲幸运5开奖网:thi🍃ngs that can’t be GOTY but s🌠hould be’ list. It’s also much easier to pick up and play than meaty RPGs or complex narrative 🅰sagas.

However, much like GTA it might not have universal appeal to everyone here, and could skip as many lists as it features in. Hopefully everyone decides to 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:give ripping aꦿnd tearing a try in 2025.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - 20/1

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth came fourth in TheGamer’s Game of the Year thi🦄s year, but it had the highest average from everyone who voted for it. Its undoing was not enough people playing it.

Yakuza/Like a Dragon fans at the site grow year on year through word of mouth, so I’m hopeful Infinite Wealth’s reception will lead to more editors giving 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pirate Yakuza a chance. On the plus side, it’s likely to be much shorter. However, its odds are lengthened by its status as a spin off wཧhich could dent its overall quality and make those on the fence less l♔ikely to pick it up before ploughing through the others.

Split Fiction - 25/1

If not for the unconfirmed arrival of a Super Mario, I’d suggest 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Split Fiction as the Astro Bottiest game of 2025. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:It Takes Two was only sixth in our 2021 list, but the growth of our voting jury that could cost some of the massive hitters here will likely 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:aid the playful casu🌺al appeal of Split Fiction. GOTY might be a bridge too far, but expect it to better It Takes Two’s showing if it can match it🌱s qu𒉰ality.

Half-Life 3 - 33/1

Odds lengthened by the fact we have no idea if or when this game is coming out, odds shortened by the fact 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:this year seﷺems more likely than ever.

Citizen Sleeper 2 - 50/1

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Citizen Sleeper won in 2022, so its sequel is due consideration. However, I don’t think the odds are in its favour. The sequel is no loꦐnger a fresh new experience, but has the pressure of ෴living up to its predecessor. Indie darlings always do well in TheGamer’s GOTY, but most of them are complete surprise packages, not sequels.

There’s also the voting method to cons🍎ider again. With more editors than in 2022, it’s harder for l🐼esser-known games to come up for air. It cost Balatro (as well as the aforementioned Infinite Wealth) this year, and even if Citizen Sleeper 2 matches the original, it may struggle to get the numbers to make it count.