Predicting the Most Anticipated Game Winner

It may not have the sheer quantity of high-quality games that last year had, but 2024 has been a surprisingly good year for video game releases. Astro Bot, Helldivers 2, STALKER 2, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Balatro were all released this year, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. But 2025 is already looking like it could be a year for the history books, and The Game Awards 2024‘s Most Anticipated Game nominee list exemplifies that.

If every game currently slated for next year actually released, 2025 could genuinely be one of the greatest years for the video game industry. But even if some titles are pushed back, there are sure to be plenty of releases that can easily pick up the slack. The five games nominated for The Game Awards 2024‘s Most Anticipated category, for instance, would be enough to satisfy many for the entire year. But while all of these games are undoubtedly anticipated, just one can win the Game Award.

The Game Awards 2024’s Most Anticipated Game Nominees

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Ghost of Yotei
• Grand Theft Auto VI
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
• Monster Hunter Wilds

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Hideo Kojima is a legendary figure in the video game industry, proving time and time again that his strong passion for both video games and cinema can create unforgettable art. Upon its November 2019 launch, the first Death Stranding was met with a generally positive reception from fans and critics alike, but its themes and strong sense of game direction have continued to impress those who have played it over the last five years.

The long-awaited sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, is currently set for a 2025 release, and fans couldn’t be more excited. Along with continuing the stories and themes explored in the first game, Death Stranding 2 seems to be cranking the bizarre factor even higher, which is sure to make the sequel an extremely memorable journey.

Ghost of Yotei

Though it was somewhat overshadowed by its close proximity to The Last of Us Part 2‘s launch, Ghost of Tsushima has since become widely regarded as one of the best action-adventure games in recent history, with its satisfying combat, emotive story, and astounding art direction setting it apart from other open-world titles. After a year or so of rumors and speculation, a sequel has finally been announced, and it’s set for release in 2025.

Ghost of Yote i will see players take control of Atsu, a warrior who takes on the mantle of “The Ghost” on the Japanese island of Hokkaido in the year 1603. Ghost of Yotei is set around 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima, so players can expect to see plenty of new weapons and activities themed around the advancement of technology, such as the ability to wield a rifle. With Ghost of Tsushima only growing increasingly popular since its release, it’s fair to say that there’s a lot of excitement surrounding the upcoming sequel.

Grand Theft Auto 6

It’s been over a decade since players first got their hands on Grand Theft Auto 5, and it’s been almost as long since fans first started theorizing about when they’d see Grand Theft Auto 6. Before it even debuted a single second of in-engine footage, Grand Theft Auto 6 could call itself one of the most anticipated video games of all time, and with it now being almost a year since its first trailer dropped, that fervent excitement has reached a fever pitch.

From character twists to story beats to open-world side activities to multiplayer minigames to Easter eggs, every single possible element of Grand Theft Auto 6 has been a source of speculation for years, to the point where its eventual release will likely feel pretty surreal for some fans. Though it might sound hyperbolic, Grand Theft Auto 6 is going to set the world on fire in 2025.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Another sequel that’s been the subject of non-stop rumors and speculation for the best part of a decade, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally has a tentative release window, and that window is 2025. While the Nintendo Switch’s successor is rumored to be releasing next year as well, it seems like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will still be available on the current generation of Switch consoles, which will be great news for every fan who’s been waiting years for this long-awaited sequel.

Monster Hunter Wilds

A direct successor to 2018’s Monster Hunter: World, Monster Hunter Wilds has a concrete release date of February 28, 2025. Monster Hunter Wilds is probably the game on this nominee list that fans know most about, with Capcom having released multiple cinematic and gameplay trailers for it. As such, while fans are certainly excited to venture out into Monster Hunter Wilds‘ huge open-world, the game is missing a layer of mystery and excitement that surrounds the other titles in the running for this Game Awards trophy.

Final Prediction

Though Monster Hunter Wilds, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yotei, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are all highly anticipated titles, there’s one clear winner for The Game Awards 2024’s Most Anticipated Game category, and that’s Grand Theft Auto 6. No sequel in gaming history has ever had quite so much widespread appeal and notoriety as Grand Theft Auto 6, and it’s undoubtedly the gaming world’s most anticipated game of 2025.

MORE: 8 Great Games From 2024 That Weren’t Nominated For The Game Awards, Ranked