PS5 Game of the Year 2025: Ghost of Yōtei Sweeps PlayStation Awards

The PlayStation Blog has announced the winners of its 2025 Game of the Year awards. Ghost of Yōtei, the samurai sequel from Sucker Punch, has been crowned the overall champion. The results were decided by a record-breaking number of fan votes.

This marks a significant victory for PlayStation’s first-party studios. The community-driven awards highlight what players truly loved this year, offering a different perspective from other industry ceremonies.

Record Voter Turnout Crowns a Clear Winner

According to the PlayStation Blog, nearly 1.5 million votes were cast across all categories. This massive participation gave the awards unprecedented legitimacy as a voice of the gaming community. Fans showed overwhelming support for the open-world adventure.

Ghost of Yōtei won an impressive total of seven awards. These included the top Game of the Year prize, Best New Character for protagonist Atsu, and Best Art Direction. The wins underscore the game’s critical and popular success on the PS5 platform.

The victory is notable given the strong competition. The game beat out other major 2025 titles like *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* and *Death Stranding 2: On The Beach*. This divergence shows a clear split between fan preferences and other award juries.

Community Voice Reshapes Award Season Narrative

The results present a fascinating contrast to The Game Awards held in December. At that event, *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* took home the ultimate prize. The PlayStation Blog awards, decided purely by players, told a different story.

This highlights the evolving nature of gaming accolades. Industry-voted awards and community-driven polls can yield very different champions. Both are valid, but they measure different forms of success and appreciation.

For Sucker Punch, the sweep is a powerful validation. It confirms that the studio’s sequel resonated deeply with its core audience. The wins for audio design and graphical showcase also praise the game’s technical mastery on the PS5 hardware.

The 2025 Game of the Year title for Ghost of Yōtei solidifies its place as a defining PS5 exclusive. The record voter turnout proves that when players speak, the industry listens. This community endorsement may influence how awards are structured for years to come.

Thought you’d like to know

What awards did Ghost of Yōtei win?

It won seven PlayStation Blog awards including Game of the Year, Best New Character, and Best Art Direction. It also secured wins for Best Audio Design and the Graphical Showcase category.

How many people voted in the awards?

Nearly 1.5 million player votes were counted across all categories. This set a new record for participation in the PlayStation Blog’s annual community awards.

Did other PS5 games win awards?

Yes. While Ghost of Yōtei dominated, *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* won Best Soundtrack. Other PS5 exclusives and multi-platform games were nominated across various categories.

Why is this award result significant?

It shows a difference between critic/jury votes and pure player choice. The community’s top pick differed from the winner at other major ceremonies, highlighting diverse gaming tastes.

What does this mean for Sucker Punch?

The sweep is a major endorsement from PlayStation fans. It validates the studio’s creative direction and confirms the sequel’s success following the original Ghost of Tsushima.