There’s A Clear Winner for Best Mobile Game of 2025 (And It’s Not Even Close)

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The nominees for The Game Awards 2025 have been announced! The awards show revealed all the contenders across every category, including Game of the Year and Best Narrative. I haven’t usually paid much attention to the Best Mobile Game category, but this year’s nominees are impressive enough to change my mind – I’m particularly interested in seeing who wins that one, especially with some standout titles in the running.

Five games are competing for the title of Best Mobile Game in 2025. The lineup includes strong contenders like the impressive Destiny Rising spin-off and the popular free-to-play RPG Wuthering Waves. However, both my personal opinion and the initial reaction from fans suggest a clear frontrunner: Umamusume: Pretty Derby is almost certain to win.

Fans Celebrate Umamusume: Pretty Derby’s Best Mobile Game Nomination

I never imagined I’d become a mobile gamer. When Pokemon Go came out in 2016, I thought it would be the only exception. For years, it was! But my job requires me to try out new things to stay updated on trends, and that’s how I started playing Umamusume: Pretty Derby. This game about horse girls quickly became popular on Steam after its PC release. After downloading it, I realized it felt better suited for playing on my phone like a mobile game.

Five months later, I’m still consistently logging in to collect my daily rewards and continue training my racing team in the game. Seeing it nominated for Best Mobile Game felt surprisingly rewarding – like I’d helped the game succeed. Judging by the enthusiastic reaction to the announcement, many other players feel the same way.

Run and vote for Umamusume!

— Kaoura (@RealKaoura) November 17, 2025

Okay, so I’ve been checking out the reactions, and while there’s some support for other games, the overwhelming majority of people are really rooting for Umamusume to win. Seriously, one person put it perfectly – it’s “the only game of its kind worth playing right now!” My feed is flooded with cute Umamusume gifs of the girls getting hyped for a race, and honestly, it just confirms what I already knew: Umamusume: Pretty Derby is hands-down my mobile game of the year. I’m definitely not the only one who thinks so!

There’s Just Something Special About Umamusume: Pretty Derby

I believe Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a truly deserving winner. It stands out because, unlike most games I play regularly, it isn’t a Pokémon title. This mobile game offers a genuinely fresh experience in a market full of similar options. Its enduring popularity isn’t simply due to its charming characters – like Rice Shower, Special Week, and El Condor Pasa – but to something more substantial.

Umamusume can be quite challenging when it comes to getting new characters and support items through its gacha system. It takes a lot of luck or spending money to build a truly competitive team. However, the main gameplay itself is solid and doesn’t require any purchases or interrupt you with ads. While reaching the very top levels is difficult without spending money, you can still have a lot of fun playing for free.

Umamusume has several ways to play, ranging from full story-driven Career mode where you develop your characters, to quick daily races. The game consistently rewards you for playing, with a variety of in-game events and surprisingly engaging stories. You’ll quickly become invested in the characters, even the ones you haven’t unlocked yet.

The game is simple to learn, but has a lot of strategic depth for players who want to master it. The Career mode is quite complex, and the decisions you make actually affect how well your Umamusume performs. It’s also fun to learn about real horse racing history, as the characters are inspired by actual racehorses.

This mobile game stands out from the crowd. It offers a unique and enjoyable take on the free-to-play gacha experience, with appealing art and a fun sense of humor. While all the nominees are strong, I’m predicting this game will win in 2025.

Excited about the 2025 Game Awards? Tell us which mobile game you think will win Best Mobile Game! Share your pick and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-22 17:43