2025 has been an exceptional year for game releases. With The Game Awards now concluded, attention is shifting from the year’s biggest titles to what 2026 may bring for the industry.
In recent years, The Game Awards have faced criticism over their treatment of developers, their silence on widespread industry layoffs, and the classification of high-budget, publisher-backed titles as “indie” games. Despite these ongoing concerns, the nominated games continue to be widely celebrated by players across genres.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ultimately took home the Game of the Year award. Developed by French studio Sandfall Interactive, the turn-based RPG is centred on a dark fantasy narrative and stood out for its storytelling and design. The title dominated the ceremony, winning nine awards overall, including Best Narrative and Game of the Year, cementing its place as one of 2025’s standout releases.
Game of the Year nominees:
● Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Winner)
● Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
● Donkey Kong Bananza
● Hades II
● Hollow Knight: Silksong
● Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Irish highlights: IMIRT Awards 2025
Earlier this year, the Irish Game Makers Association (IMIRT) held its annual awards, celebrating Irish games released in 2024 and early 2025. Unlike the Game Awards, IMIRT focuses heavily on developers and creative achievement.
Irish Game of the Year 2025 went to Amber Isle by Ambertail, a Belfast-based studio. The prehistoric shop-keeping and social simulator also won four additional awards: Best Game Design, Best Art, Best Audio, and Best Debut Game.
Best Narrative was awarded to Mothered: A Role-Playing Horror Game, created in Galway by indie developer and ENIGMA STUDIO Director, Jamie Gavin. Baldur’s Gate III, still a global phenomenon since its 2023 Game of the Year win, received the runner-up spot. The game’s creative and narrative development was led by a team whose roots remain in Dublin, working from the Larian Studios office in the Irish capital.
Ireland’s gaming scene has expanded steadily in recent years, backed by support from organisations such as Galway-based Ardán, IMIRT, and Screen Ireland/NI Screen. Ireland has become a clear example of how increased investment has translated into richer narratives, improved accessibility, and more polished gameplay experiences from developers
Hardware: A mixed year for gamers
The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 launched on 5 June alongside Mario Kart World. While the console has been praised for its performance, it drew criticism for its limited launch-day lineup. Backwards compatibility has been one of its major selling points, with many Switch titles playable on the updated system.
For PC players, the year was less favourable. Global RAM shortages caused component prices to rise sharply in the lead-up to the holiday season. In Galway, second-hand retailer CEX, now located in Galway Shopping Centre on Headford Road, has become a go-to option for budget-conscious upgrades.
Student insights
A UoG Computer Science student who asked to remain anonymous shared his thoughts on this year’s releases and nominations.
“Just because of the incomprehensible hype, I think Hollow Knight: Silksong might be the favourite,” he said.
He added that while the Switch 2 appealed to him, the price point held him back from buying it during Black Friday.
“Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza seem like a good time but what really interests me is riding the wave of nostalgia with the opportunity to play old gamecube games on it, it’s one of the bigger pulls for me,” he said.
He also highlighted a promising Galway-based title, The Pigkeeper’s Dice by developer Dave Ryley, whose demo recently appeared at a local game makers meetup. Ryley participated in the Games Talent Incubator for Irish developers earlier this year.
Looking ahead to 2026
Some of the most anticipated 2026 titles include:
● GTA VI
● Deus Ex Remastered
● Resident Evil: Requiem
● Nioh 3
With major AAA releases on the horizon, alongside indie titles breaking into the mainstream, including Tölt by Galway-based ENIGMA STUDIO, Big Walk by House House, and Paralives entering early access, and continued momentum from Irish studios, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for both global and local gaming communities.
Megan studies Creative Writing at the University of Galway and has spent the past few years working within Galway’s indie game-development community, including on projects at Saorspell.
Megan Fox is a University of Galway student in her final year of a BA in English and Creative Writing. She is originally from Cork and has a passion for the games industry after co-founding the Galway based indie games studio, Saorspell.