Xbox Game Pass is a very popular subscription service for gamers, offering different plans to fit various budgets. It boasts a huge library of games for both Xbox consoles and PCs, with new titles added every month – often including major releases on the very day they come out. Game Pass isn’t just about older games, either; two games launching on the service in 2025 were nominated for Game of the Year awards.
The Game Awards is a huge celebration of video games held every year. It’s a show where exciting new games are revealed, trailers are shown, and the best games of the year are recognized with awards. The most prestigious award is Game of the Year. The nominations for 2025 are now available, and voting has begun. Interestingly, two of the games nominated for the top prize were also available on Game Pass from day one.
Game Pass Subscribers Can Play 2 Game of the Year Nominees for Free
Recent Game of the Year awards have recognized incredible games like Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023) and Elden Ring (2022). Last year, Astro Bot, a PlayStation 5 exclusive, won, which surprised many players on other systems. However, in 2025, two out of the six nominees for this prestigious award were available on Xbox Game Pass from day one.
Several highly anticipated games are competing for Game of the Year in 2025, including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight: Silksong. They’re joined by major releases like Hades 2, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Banaz, and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. It’s shaping up to be a great year for sequels, and a particularly good one for those with a Game Pass subscription who want to try the nominated games before the winner is revealed.
Kepler Interactive’s turn-based RPG, Expedition 33, has quickly become a fan favorite. It launched on Xbox Game Pass in April and is still available to play with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. With a Metacritic score of 92 and a 9.6 user rating, it’s a strong contender for Game of the Year, though it faces tough competition from other excellent games.
Fans have been incredibly excited for Hollow Knight: Silksong, and it finally launched on September 4th as part of the Xbox Game Pass lineup. It’s available to play with both Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass subscriptions. While its MetaScore of 90 is slightly lower than some other nominated games, the game’s strong fanbase means it’s still a strong contender for awards.
Xbox players will likely miss out on most of the 2025 Game of the Year contenders. Several titles—including Hades 2 and Donkey Kong Bonanza—are exclusive to Nintendo Switch and the new Switch 2, while Death Stranding 2 is a PlayStation 5 exclusive. Currently, the only other nominee available on Xbox is Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, but it isn’t included with Game Pass, though it is playable on Xbox Series X|S.
What game do you think will win Game of the Year in 2025? Share your pick in the comments and discuss it with others on the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-11-22 21:40