Nintendo Scores Two Golden Joystick Console Game of the Year Nominations

24 October 2025
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9 min.
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Nintendo Scores Two Golden Joystick Console Game of the Year Nominations

Summary:

The Golden Joystick Awards 2025 have opened public voting, and Nintendo is in a strong position with two entries on the Console Game of the Year shortlist: Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. They’re joined by heavyweight contenders including Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Monster Hunter Wilds, and—depending on the roundup you’re reading—Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds appears alongside these names in nominee coverage. Voting runs through the end of October, with the ceremony in November. That means there’s a tight window to show support, compare the field on features and performance, and weigh up which game defined your year on console. Below, we break down the nominees, what sets each apart, practical tips for casting a valid vote, and why two Nintendo-led titles on one ballot matters for momentum heading into the holiday release stretch. You’ll find clear guidance on deadlines, what the official voting page looks like, and how fan ballots typically shape category outcomes. Ready to make your pick?

Golden Joystick Awards 2025: what’s on the ballot

The Golden Joystick Awards are among the industry’s longest-running public-voted celebrations of games, and 2025 continues that tradition with voting open across multiple categories. For console players, the marquee shortlist is Console Game of the Year, a category that spotlights titles that set the pace on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo hardware. Public voting is live through late October before winners are revealed in November at the London ceremony. The shortlist this year is notable for Nintendo: two first-party-led experiences—Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza—share the stage with high-profile releases from other publishers. That double presence signals strong platform momentum and puts Nintendo fans in the position to influence the final tally if they mobilize. The rest of the field features cinematic ambition, sprawling action-RPG design, and speed-focused racers, creating a genuine style clash. If you’ve been waiting for a ballot that reflects the year’s breadth—family-friendly mastery, prestige storytelling, monster-slaying spectacle, and head-to-head racing rivalries—this one brings it together in a single vote.

Nintendo’s two nominees: why Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza resonate

Seeing Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza on the same shortlist captures two sides of Nintendo’s craft. Mario Kart World pushes competitive accessibility with tight handling, track creativity, and a loop that’s welcoming for newcomers yet ruthless at the top tier. It’s the kind of racer that turns casual couch sessions into week-long rivalries. Donkey Kong Bananza, by contrast, doubles down on energetic platforming, chunky impact, and playful invention—those set-piece swings and rhythm-like sequences stick in your head. Together they offer a one-two punch: a communal multiplayer staple and a bold character-driven adventure. For voters, that means you’re not just picking a “Nintendo game,” you’re choosing between different flavors of excellence. Love the feeling of snatching a last-corner lead? Mario Kart World sings. Prefer the joy of perfect timing through a tricky gauntlet and the characterful charm that goes with it? Bananza makes that case in style.

The full field at a glance: how each nominee makes its case

The shortlist spans more than brand recognition; it’s a battle of design philosophies. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach elevates traversal and atmosphere, building on auteur-driven storytelling with a bigger, stranger canvas. Ghost of Yōtei adds snowy myth and precise combat flow that rewards patience and mastery. Monster Hunter Wilds brings co-op tactics and ecosystem depth—gear prep, monster patterns, and dynamic environments mix into memorable hunts. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, when included in roundups, throws a rival mascot racer into the conversation with high-speed drafting, trick routes, and a modernized sense of momentum. Stack that lineup next to Nintendo’s pair and you get a ballot where every choice feels defensible: narrative weight, technique-forward action, systems-rich co-op, or multiplayer mayhem. The right pick depends on what you value most—impactful moments, replayable loops, or that ineffable “just one more run” spark.

How to cast a valid vote without hiccups

Voting is straightforward: head to the Golden Joystick Awards hub, select your categories, and confirm your ballot. Because this is a widely shared link across social feeds, caches and device handoff can occasionally cause odd behavior. The easiest fix is to ensure you’re using a fresh session, then confirm your category picks before submitting. If you’re switching between desktop and mobile, keep an eye on the confirmation screen to verify your vote registered. And if you’re the coordinator for friends or a community, consider sharing the direct hub URL with a short note on the deadline—momentum tends to spike in the final days, so a quick nudge can tip the scales. The hub also details the ceremony timing and the separate voting window for Ultimate Game of the Year, which opens in early November.

Key dates and deadlines every voter should know

The shortlist was revealed in early October, which coincided with the opening of public voting. Ballots close at the end of October, and the ceremony follows in November at a central London venue. That cadence gives you the rest of the month to replay your favorite nominee, sample a rival via a demo or friend’s copy, and make a considered call. If you’re planning a group vote night or a stream to talk through categories, aim for the last week of October to catch anyone who procrastinated. After the category winners are announced, keep an eye out for the Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist, which traditionally has its own quick voting window ahead of the ceremony.

Mario Kart World vs. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds — a rivalry fans can feel

Anytime Nintendo and Sega square off on a ballot, conversation heats up. Mario Kart World and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds represent two schools of speed: weighty drift control with chaotic item play versus rapid line optimization and boost-centric flow. If you’re the type who lives for slipstream mind games and last-second overtakes, Kart’s layered randomness keeps races fresh. If you love memorizing ideal routes and chaining boosts like a rhythm game, Sonic’s style can feel like a trance. Both produce spectacular replays and shout-worthy finishes. That’s why this particular pairing has dominated social chatter—players aren’t just comparing features; they’re reliving personal highlight reels and trying to convince friends their flavor of chaos is the purest fun.

Track design, handling, and the feel of speed

Handling tells the story. Mario Kart World builds confidence early with readable curves and drift cues that make you feel clever when you nail the perfect exit. CrossWorlds, meanwhile, emphasizes momentum—miss one timing window and you feel it, but hit your marks and the game turns into poetry. Track design follows suit: Kart trades in playful hazards and shortcuts that invite experimentation, while CrossWorlds offers flowing routes where a single, well-timed transfer can shave seconds. Neither philosophy is “better,” they’re simply tuned to different thrills. When you vote, think about which sensation sat with you longer after you put the controller down.

Donkey Kong Bananza’s case: personality, rhythm, and joyful challenge

Bananza succeeds by being unmistakably itself. The art direction pops, animations bounce with character, and the platforming drip-feeds mastery in a way that’s satisfying rather than punishing. It’s the rare action-platformer that feels just as good to watch as it does to play, thanks to readable silhouettes and big, chunky feedback on grabs, rolls, and bashes. Level gimmicks don’t feel like one-off stunts; they evolve across worlds, teaching you new tricks without long tutorials. It’s easy to imagine that craftsmanship resonating with public voters who prize games that get right to the fun and never let go. If your year was defined by grinning through tight escapes and humming along to a catchy theme, Bananza is tough to ignore on the ballot.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach — atmosphere as an argument

Kojima Productions makes a different pitch: mood as mechanics. The sequel leans into traversal as tension, where every ridge line and shoreline feels physically present. That physicality lends weight to quiet victories—a safe delivery, a solved route—that sticks with you when the credits roll. It’s a flavor of excellence that’s harder to summarize in a bullet point, but once it clicks, it’s unforgettable. If your year was shaped by slow-burn moments and a world that felt eerily tangible, “On the Beach” offers a compelling reason to cast your vote its way.

Ghost of Yōtei and Monster Hunter Wilds — precision and cooperation

Ghost of Yōtei represents the mastery path: crisp parries, disciplined movement, and a painterly setting that rewards patience. It’s the kind of game where a single perfect duel can define an entire playthrough. Monster Hunter Wilds goes the other way: deliberate prep, team roles, and dizzying boss reads that become second nature after hours with your group. Both speak to skill—one solitary and introspective, the other social and strategic. If your 2025 highlight was either honing a build to perfection or finally downing a towering beast with your squad, these two nominees will call your name on the ballot.

How fan voting typically shapes category outcomes

Public ballots favor communities that organize and show up. Franchises with evergreen player bases—Kart, Monster Hunter, live-service giants—often convert that presence into votes. Cinematic titles can surge if they capture the conversation near the deadline with a standout moment, patch, or DLC drop. That means social momentum in late October can matter as much as day-one reveals. If you want your favorite to win, don’t just vote—share the link, remind friends of the cutoff, and consider showcasing a clip that explains your choice better than any caption could. Collective enthusiasm tends to snowball when there’s a clear call to action and a ticking clock.

Practical checklist before you submit your ballot

First, verify you’re on the official voting hub. Second, scan the Console Game of the Year category and confirm your selection appears in the review screen. Third, note the closing date so you don’t miss the window if you plan to revisit other categories. Finally, keep a screenshot of your confirmation if you’re managing votes for a group or community; it helps you track who’s in and who still needs a nudge. None of this takes long, and it ensures your vote actually counts when the tally closes.

Why two Nintendo nominees on one shortlist is a big deal

Two first-party-led titles on the same ballot signals depth, not just a single-hit year. It also puts spotlight pressure on rivals to differentiate rather than blend into the “prestige action-adventure” lane. For Nintendo watchers, it’s a tidy snapshot of the platform’s range: kinetic platforming on one hand and endlessly social racing on the other. Win or lose, that dual presence strengthens the brand’s narrative heading into the holidays—especially if fan turnout is visible in the final results.

Where and when to watch the results roll in

The ceremony takes place in London in November, with results posted shortly after winners are announced. If you care about category specifics, keep the official hub bookmarked; it’s where final tallies and write-ups appear first. Social channels light up quickly too, but the hub remains the authoritative source for who won what, and when. Whether you’re rooting for a Nintendo sweep or expecting a dramatic late push from a cinematic favorite, the timeline from voting close to show night is fast—so be ready for the reveal and the inevitable debates that follow.

Making your choice: what mattered most to you this year?

When you boil it down, ballots are personal. Maybe your standout memory is a perfect blue-shell dodge on the last lap, a boss hunt that took half the night, or a windswept trek that made you sit back and just listen. Pick the nominee that made you feel something and kept you coming back. That’s the game of your year—and it’s exactly what this category is trying to capture.

Conclusion

Public voting for the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 puts the spotlight squarely on players, and this year’s Console Game of the Year race reflects a wide spectrum of what makes games great. Nintendo arrives with two strong cases—Mario Kart World’s communal thrill and Donkey Kong Bananza’s joyous momentum—while heavyweight competitors bring cinematic sweep, disciplined combat, and co-op depth. Cast a vote that mirrors your best 2025 memories, keep an eye on the deadline, and get ready for a ceremony that always delivers lively results and even livelier debates.

FAQs
  • When does voting close?
    • Voting for the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 closes at the end of October. Check the official hub for the exact cutoff in your local time and submit your ballot before the deadline to ensure it counts.
  • Where do I vote?
    • Use the official Golden Joystick Awards page. It lists every category, including Console Game of the Year, and provides a confirmation screen after you submit.
  • Are Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza both on the Console GOTY shortlist?
    • Yes—current nominee lists show both Nintendo titles appearing on the Console Game of the Year ballot alongside other major releases.
  • Will Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds compete with Mario Kart World directly?
    • Several nominee roundups include CrossWorlds in the same conversation as Kart on the console ballot, fueling a spirited racer-versus-racer debate among fans.
  • When and where is the ceremony?
    • The event is held in London in November. The official pages outline venue details and timing, and results are published shortly after the show.
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