The Game Awards 2025 released their list of nominees that can be voted for right now. To some surprise, many of these have made the cut from a decent run this year. However, there is the roster add elephant in the room that needs to be addressed. As it stands, here’s what we’ll be seeing in December:
2XKO has made the list for Fighting Game of the Year despite it having a few betas over the years and its’ September early release with a small roster for a tag fighting game. The lack of much for the title is apparent, which seems to feel as if history is repeating itself.
2XKO seemed to have a lot of promises over the years unkept, which makes the title a hard sell. League of Legends / Arcane tie-in be darned. 2XKO does check off boxes for aesthetics, but the limited release to only PC through Riot Games doesn’t feel all that accessible to the masses.
MultiVersus was in a similar predicament, being an unfinished game taking the wins from the likes of King of Fighters XV – a finished game in 2022 that still garnered character support up to 2024. Then again, 2022 was weirder year for the The Game Awards as even the likes of Beat-Em-Up Sifu was also considered for this crown. MultiVersus was a contender for 2022 and 2024.
From my perspective, I’d probably hope to see SNK take it home with Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves since it’s the only original title here. City of the Wolves attempts to bring back some of the charm that Fatal Fury: Real Bout and Mark of the Wolves introduced.
It’s also a good way to see classic King of Fighters characters in their original stomping grounds (we’re definitely looking at you two, Terry and Mai) with their pool yard rules and mechanics intact. The game continues that SNK x Capcom collab from Street Fighter VI as best as it could with Ken and Chun-Li entering the fray.
2025 had some good compilations, too. Capcom vs SNK 2 finally making it to current and last gen with rollback is important to the scene just as much from Capcom Fighting Collection 2. This is the first time, in quite a while, that the game is playable online without the use of certain methods. The fan-service is also there, too. 
Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection is that definite apology for the cut-off that Mortal Kombat 1 has experienced from Netherrealm Studios in terms of support for new features and DLC to their 2023 title. However, Legacy Kollection’s history lessons here, from the Midway / Acclaim classic, are astounding with a massive load of ports, per game, to throw a fatality at.
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage does deserve a shot for its’ ability to stay original to its’ ports. Especially as the potential buildup to a new 3D rival to 2024’s winner Tekken 8 since Dead Or Alive 6 is out of commission. However, this is me speaking on behalf of The New Virtua Fighter Project’s potential moretimes than R.E.V.O., which could be years away. However, 2021 could have been what Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown needed in terms of a win.
Hunter X Hunter: Nen x Impact could have replaced 2XKO, but at the same time: the reception was not as everyone had hoped from a title procured by the Marvel vs Capcom 3 company – Eighting. This does raise the question as to what is considered to be a potential Fighting Game of the Year spot holder from a rules perspective. How complete does a game have to be inorder to be considered?
In other categories, Street Fighter players Kakeru and Menard are both being considered as Esports Athlete of the Year through nominations.
As for what else we will see, we’ll have to stay tuned to The Game Awards on December 11th for the outcome.
