Black Friday is here, meaning now is your best chance to save some cash when picking up the best games of the year. Not sure what the best games are? Look no further than The Game Awards, which revealed its nominees Nov. 17. While the nominating body ultimately snubbed some of our favorites, the whole swath of nominees presents a great snapshot of the best of the best for 2025.
Whether you’re grabbing a present for a loved one or looking to pick up a new game for yourself, we got you covered.
The Alters
The Alters is up for Best Strategy/Sim Game. We’d argue Alex Jordan should be nominated for Best Performance on the back of his dozen Jan Dolski roles in the game, but he ended up as one of TGA’s biggest snubs.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The latest Assassin’s Creed may only be up for one award, Innovation in Acessibility, but it’s received a sizable discount for Black Friday. Nintendo Switch 2 players will be able to pick Assassin’s Creed Shadows up for the handheld hybrid on Dec. 4, though it might be a bit before it receives a discount on the Switch 2.
Avowed
Avowed may have missed out on a Game of the Year nomination, but it is up for Best RPG. If you haven’t played it yet, now might be the best time to pick it up as it’s received a sizable discount.
Battlefield 6
Battlefield is back with a bang with Battlefield 6. It’s up for Best Multiplayer (no surprise there) as well as Best Audio Design and Best Action. Despite being a recent release, you can snag it on a slight discount for Black Friday.
Blue Prince
Dogubomb’s Blue Prince may not be up for Game of the Year at The Game Awards, but we’re big fans of it here at gamexplore. The roguelike puzzler is up for Best Independent Game and Debut Indie Game. If you haven’t checked it out yet, snag it on sale for Black Friday.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is up for Best Fighting Game, and is a must-play for retro enthusiasts.
Civilization 7
Civilization 7 received an up-and-down response from its player base (it sits with a “mixed” rating on Steam), but that hasn’t stopped it from receiving a nomination for Best Strategy/Sim Game.
- $45.49 (-35%) at the Xbox Store
- $64.99 (-33%) at Steam (Deluxe Edition)
- $44.99 (-36%) at Best Buy and other retailers
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 set a record for The Game Awards nominations with 12 across a variety of categories, including Best Art Direction, Best Narrative, and, of course, Game of the Year. Though it’s been out for seven months, it rarely gets discounted from its $49.99 price point, so now is the time to pick it up on sale. The Deluxe Edition, which includes additional cosmetics, can also be found on sale.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
The second Death Stranding title is also vying for Game of the Year as well as Best Audio Design, Best Game Direction, and more.
Despelote
Despelote may not have the name recognition of other games on this list, but it deserves to hang with the best of them. It’s up for Debut Indie Game and Games for Impact, and is currently discounted on consoles.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Nintendo’s GOTY contender is also up for Best Family Game at The Game Awards. Unfortunately, as is common for new Nintendo games, Donkey Kong Bananza is not receiving a discount for Black Friday. If you want it under your Christmas tree, it’ll be for the regular retail price of $69.99.
Doom: The Dark Ages
Doom: The Dark Ages is up for Best Action as well as Innovation in Accessibility at the Game Awards. There’s no better time than now to pick it up as it’s half off digitally.
EA Sports FC 26
EA Sports FC 26 is nominated for Best Sports/Racing Game as well as Innovation in Accessibility. Like any EA sports game around this time of year, it’s received a sizable discount. Being a patient gamer pays off.
Elden Ring: Nightreign
Unlike the original Elden Ring, the multiplayer spinoff won’t be contending for Game of the Year. Elden Ring: Nightreign will be in the running for Best Multiplayer, though, and has received some sharp discounts for Black Friday, though only for physical copies at this moment.
- $29.99 (-25%) at Best Buy and other retailers
F1 25
Like EA Sports FC 26, F1 25 is in the running for Best Sports/Racing Game and it too is half off.
Hades 2
In addition to Game of the Year, Supergiant’s Hades 2 is also up for Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, and more. It’s still full price ($29.99) at the Nintendo eShop and on Steam. However, Hades 2 recently released on cartridge for Nintendo Switch 2. For physical collectors, paying $49.99 for a physical copy might be worth it, even without a sale price.
Helldivers 2
Sony struck live service gold with Helldivers 2 in 2024, and it’s up for Best Ongoing Game and Community Support at The Game Awards. While it’s full priced on consoles (including the recent Xbox port), it’s on sale on Steam.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
The original Hollow Knight was only up for one award at The Game Awards in 2017, and missed out on bringing the hardware home. The same surely won’t be said for its sequel. Hollow Knight: Silksong is up for GOTY, Best Independent Game, Best Action/Adventure Game, and other awards. Like fellow indie Hades 2, it’s currently fully priced on digital storefronts, but at $19.99, Silksong is already something of a bargain.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
The only thing not going for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is its release date. The well-received adventure launched in Dec. 2024, making it technically eligible for the 2025 Game Awards, though it was largely overshadowed by 2025 releases. It’s up for Best Action/Adventure Game and and Best Performance for Troy Baker.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the final GOTY contender, and it’s also up for Best Narrative and Best RPG.
Lego Voyagers
Lego Voyagers is a great co-op option for when you want something cute and low-key, and it’s up for Best Family Game. It’s not currently on sale for Xbox or Switch, but PlayStation and PC players can grab it for 20% off.
Monster Hunter Wilds
The latest Monster Hunter is up for Best RPG. To grab the regular edition on sale at the moment, you’ll have to go for a physical copy. Otherwise, the Deluxe Edition is discounted.
Ninja Gaiden 4
Ninja Gaiden is back in all its blood-soaked glory, and with a discount. Ninja Gaiden 4 is up for Best Action, and you can grab a digital copy for 20% off.
The Outer Worlds 2
The Outer Worlds 2 is digitally discounted for Black Friday. Better yet, it’s marked down from $70 rather than the $80 Microsoft originally wanted to sell it at. It’s up for Best RPG at The Game Awards.
Rematch
The arcade soccer (football, for our non-American readers) game Rematch is up for Best Sports/Racing Game, and you can grab it on sale for Black Friday.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Also up for Best Action is another ninja game, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. You can get it for a clean 30% off for Black Friday.
Silent Hill f
Silent Hill f‘s abrupt ending may have cost it a GOTY nom, but it’s up for Best Audio Design, Best Narrative, and Best Performance for Konatsu Kato as Hinako. (And it would surely lead Best Horror Game if such a category existed.)
Sonic Racing Crossworlds
Mario Kart World isn’t the only must-play racing game of the year. Sonic Racing Crossworlds is giving it a run for its money, and it’s contending for Best Family Game and Best Sports/Racing Game.
South of Midnight
South of Midnight may have been snubbed in categories like Best Art Direction and Best Score & Music, but it did garner a couple of noms at The Game Awards. It’s up for Innovation in Accessibility and Games for Impact.
Split Fiction
Split Fiction may not get a second Game of the Year award for developer Hazelight, but it’s nominated in other categories at The Game Awards. Split Fiction is contending for Best Game Direction, Best Multiplayer, Best Action/Adventure Game, and Best Family Game.
Two Point Museum
Two Point Museum is nominated for Best Strategy/Sim Game at The Game Awards.
Wanderstop
Wanderstop is a cozy game with a surrealist narrative, examining the effect of burnout on an individual. It’s up for the Games for Impact award.
