The 2025 Game Awards once again proved why it’s the night the entire industry stops to celebrate what makes games such a powerful creative medium. From historic wins to surprise announcements, unforgettable performances, and bold visions for the future, this year’s show had something for every kind of fan and creator.
For us at KitBash3D, it was a moment to pause and appreciate the artistry, innovation, and world-building happening in the industry right now. From jaw-dropping reveals that tease the next chapter in beloved franchises or unexpected glimpses into new worlds, the event left us inspired about where game design and narrative building are headed next.
We asked members of the KitBash3D team to share what resonated most with them, from standout wins to trailers they can’t stop thinking about. Here’s what we loved from the 2025 Game Awards, through our eyes and creative lenses. Let’s dive in.
Mike Reese, VP of Asset Production
I came away from the 2025 Game Awards really excited. There were a few trailers that genuinely stood out.
Ontos immediately grabbed me. It feels absolutely drenched in atmosphere, with strong horror elements and a striking visual identity. It honestly gave me that same feeling I had the first time I saw the original BioShock trailer, like stepping into a completely new world that hasn’t really been explored before. That sense of mystery and discovery is hard to pull off, and Ontos seems to nail it.
Seeing Resident Evil again was also a highlight. Bringing Leon back into the spotlight is fantastic, and it looks like Capcom is really leaning into their roots. The gameplay vibe feels like a great balance between classic survival horror from the original Resident Evil and the more action-forward elements of RE4. That blend feels very intentional, and very promising.
Another standout was Out of Words. Visually, it’s unlike anything we’ve really seen before. The claymation-inspired art style is completely unique, and I’m incredibly curious to see how that aesthetic translates into gameplay. It’s rare to see something feel that fresh, and I’m genuinely excited to learn more.
And of course, Street Fighter. That trailer was pure hype. Growing up on Street Fighter (and watching the Jean-Claude Van Damme movie more times than I can count), I’m really curious to see how they reinterpret the franchise for the big screen this time around. If nothing else, it looks like it’s going to be absolutely bananas.
Overall, a strong showing! Lots of creativity, strong identities, and a few projects that feel truly special.
Nikita Kulchitskiy, Material & Texture Artist
Larian Studios revealed the Divinity trailer, and I was really shocked and excited. The trailer feels brutal. The mysterious fantasy atmosphere and the folk-style soundtrack fit it perfectly. They said this will be their biggest game ever, which is hard to imagine after Baldur’s Gate 3. The art style and visual fidelity look very similar to their previous games, which is awesome and gives a lot of confidence. Knowing how deep and well-crafted their games usually are, I can’t wait to learn more about this world. Overall, it feels ambitious, heavy, and incredibly promising.
Brock Amundson, Kit Team Lead
They unveiled Total War Warhammer 40k! That was a big announcement for me. It has been the subject of much debate and speculation if it would ever exist and when it would come ever since they first released the original Total War: Warhammer (Fantasy) back in 2016. Shocking to see it finally revealed, considering I'm sure it will be just as big if not bigger of a project than the Warhammer Fantasy trilogy and will likely kick off a decade worth of games to come (Assuming success of course, but considering the previous trilogy and the popularity of 40k, I would be shocked if it did not blow up!)
Maxx Burman, Co-CEO
Control: Resonant immediately stood out to me. The original Control carved out such a distinct brutalist identity with surreal worldbuilding, tight combat, and immaculate vibes, and this sequel looks like a confident expansion of that vision. Seeing the world push further outside the Oldest House into more open, exterior spaces was especially exciting. The environments look gorgeous, the combat feels more expressive, and the tone still hits that perfect balance of eerie and stylish. It feels like Remedy doubling down on what made the first game special.
Liosha Shyp, Cinematic Artist
The Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic trailer nails the cinematic tone, taps into classic KOTOR-era nostalgia, and teases a serious, story-driven RPG future for Star Wars. Mysterious, confident, and emotionally charged, even without gameplay, it sets huge expectations and actually earns them.
Coven of the Chicken Foot is exciting because it feels pure magic in the best way. The world is cozy, weird, and full of little details that make you want to slow down and explore. It honestly feels like Hayao Miyazaki made a game, soft fantasy vibes, nature everywhere, and that quiet, everyday magic where nothing is rushed but everything feels alive. On top of that, it’s made by one of my favorite game directors, Bruce Straley, which makes it even more special.
Anderson Araujo, Texture Artist
Lately I've been playing Solasta: Crown of the Magister and I'm having a lot of fun. It's a really simple game but really well done, and I’m really excited for Solasta 2. They are showing a lot of improvements in the trailers and demos, and I think this will be a big CRPG. Maybe as good as other big games like BG3, Divinity and Pillars? I'm excited for it.
Karli Williamson, Marketing Campaign Manager
The show this year had many exciting (and surprising) announcements. One of the more surprising was Bradley the Badger, which sees Evan Peters voicing a Badger that platforms his way through worlds based on different well loved games.
Another exciting announcement was Fuse Games’ debut project Star Wars: Galactic Racer and with the developer founded by former Criterion (Need for Speed) devs, the podracing feel is in good hands.
Special shout out to Girls Make Games, now in their 13th year making an inspiring appearance and showcasing their work in hosting summer camps, work shops, and game jams for women.
Emily Amick, Associate Art Director
Honestly, the new Tomb Raider stuff has me pretty hyped. Catalyst and Legacy of Atlantis look great so I'm hoping these deliver! I loved the older games for the beautiful open-world environments, and these feel like a huge visual leap. Gameplay also looks much more fluid so hoping those mechanics have also been improved.
I’m also really interested in Divinity. I'm not super sure what to expect here but after Baldur’s Gate 3, I have faith it'll definitely be entertaining. The visuals look stunning, and the whole midsummer, surreal horror vibe feels different from the usual horror games, more unsettling and atmospheric, and I’m very into that.
Overall, the art direction across so many upcoming games is extremely impressive. I definitely have niche interests, but I love seeing such a wide range of storylines and styles being elevated lately.
Bo Jacober, Growth
This is an easy one for me: The Free Shepherd trailer immediately made me do the Lean Forward In Chair as soon as I saw that sheepdog run across that vista. This is the kind of peaceful-meets-purposeful adventure that I love. I mean, look at that stretch at :20! I can’t wait to play it.
Thanks for indulging our fandom and us sharing what we loved from the event! From major titles to indies and everything in between, it’s clear that the future of gaming is brighter than ever.
