Gamescom 2025 Awards Recap: Biggest Wins, Wildest Surprises, and Total Chaos

Mario Kart World – Best Nintendo Switch 2 Game

Donkey Kong Bananza – Best Gameplay

Here’s the thing that gets me—Nintendo’s Switch 2 isn’t even officially out yet, and they’re already winning awards! Mario Kart World snagging the Best Nintendo Switch 2 Game award? No surprise there. Mario Kart could probably win awards in its sleep at this point.

But Donkey Kong Bananza is taking home Best Gameplay? Now that’s interesting! It beat out some serious competition, including the four-time winner Resident Evil Requiem. Guess there’s something to be said for good old-fashioned platforming fun, huh?

3. The Mobile Gaming Scene Gets Some Love (Finally!)

Love and Deepspace – Best Mobile Game

Mobile gaming taking a backseat to console and PC games at awards shows? Not this time! Love and Deepspace managed to beat out heavyweights like Genshin Impact for the Best Mobile Game award.

Honestly, it’s about time mobile games got the recognition they deserve. With more people gaming on their phones than ever before, seeing a mobile title get its moment in the spotlight feels pretty refreshing!

4. Capcom’s Victory Lap Continues

Best Lineup Winner: Capcom

As if winning four individual game awards wasn’t enough, Capcom also walked away with the Best Lineup award! Someone over there is definitely having a very good day (or year, let’s be honest).

When you’ve got Resident Evil Requiem dominating multiple categories, it’s pretty clear why the judges thought Capcom brought their A-game to Gamescom 2025. Smart strategy, solid execution, and apparently some really good coffee in their development studios!

5. The Community Knows What It Wants

Best Trailer (Community Voted): Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Booth (Community Voted): Pokémon Company

Leave it to the gaming community to show some love for the games they’ve been waiting forever to play! Hollow Knight: Silksong winning Best Trailer is basically the gaming equivalent of “we’ve been patient long enough, Team Cherry—now give us what we want!”

And Pokémon taking the fan-voted Best Booth award? Yeah, that tracks. Put some Pokémon decorations anywhere and watch adults turn into kids faster than you can say “Pikachu.”

6. The Wholesome Winner That Warmed Our Hearts

Most Wholesome & Most Entertaining: Hela

Here’s a fun fact—Hela managed to snag both the Most Wholesome AND Most Entertaining awards! Talk about range! It’s not often you see a game that can make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside while keeping you thoroughly entertained.

In a world full of intense shooters and horror games, sometimes we all need something that just makes us smile. Hela clearly delivered on that front!

7. Some Unexpected Underdogs Made Their Mark

Games for Impact: Tiny Bookshop

Best PC Game: Anno 117: Pax Romana

Best Merch: Star Birds Gacha Machine

The Games for Impact category going to Tiny Bookshop is honestly pretty sweet. There’s something beautifully ironic about a small indie game about books making a big impact at one of gaming’s largest events!

And can we talk about that Star Birds Gacha Machine winning Best Merch? Because honestly, who doesn’t love a good gacha machine? It’s like gambling, but cuter and with better prizes!

The Real Winners? All of Us Gaming Fans!

Look, at the end of the day, the Gamescom 2025 Awards gave us a pretty solid snapshot of where gaming is heading. We’ve got horror games dominating technical categories, Nintendo continuing to prove they know what gamers want, mobile games finally getting their due, and indie titles making meaningful impacts.

Whether you agree with every winner or not (and let’s be honest, when do we ever?), one thing’s for sure—2025 is shaping up to be an absolutely killer year for gaming. From zombie-infested cities to wholesome bookshops, there’s literally something for everyone!

What do you think about this year’s winners? Did your favorites get the recognition they deserved, or are you planning to write some strongly-worded forum posts about the judges’ choices? Either way, Gamescom 2025 certainly gave us plenty to talk about until next year rolls around!