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Ghost of Yōtei received seven nominations at The Game Awards 2025, yet missed the six-game Game of the Year field and won none of its nominated categories. That gap makes its omission the ceremony’s most striking snub argument—but “worst” is a judgment, not an official award result.
What Ghost of Yōtei was nominated for
The Game Awards recognized Ghost of Yōtei across seven categories:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Ghost of Yōtei PS5 | $53.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Ghost of Yotei (PS5) | $52.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut | $43.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Spooky Tower Board Game | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Mattel Games Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters Anniversary Edition Game | $24.64 | Buy on Amazon |
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- Best Game Direction
- Best Narrative
- Best Art Direction
- Best Score and Music
- Best Audio Design
- Best Performance, for Erika Ishii as Atsu
- Best Action/Adventure
That range matters: the nominations spanned creative direction, writing, visual and audio craft, acting, and genre. The game was not overlooked across the board.
Why the Game of the Year omission stands out
Ghost of Yōtei was not among the six Game of the Year nominees. The award went to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. A game can receive recognition in individual categories without being nominated for Game of the Year, so the seven nominations do not imply that it was eligible for—or entitled to—a place in that field.
#1 Best Overall
- Stunning graphics and gameplay, explore the wild and striking lands around Mount Yotei on foot or horseback. Travel picturesque parts of northern Japan through grasslands, snowy ridges, fields of wildflowers, and more.
- Discover renegade combat, engage in lawless katana combat and battles with adversaires. Train with various sensei as you find and learn to use each new weapon.
- An unconventional story and journey, take in the cultural beauty of Japan, bathe in an onsen, visit shrines to pray, try Sumi-e painting, and so much more.
- Choose your weapon, battle Atsu's opponents as you see fit, with levelled-up dual katanas, odachi, kusarigama and other new weapons.
Still, the contrast is unusually sharp: the awards recognized Yōtei in seven distinct areas, but not in the ceremony’s top category. That mismatch is the strongest factual basis for calling the omission a snub. It does not establish why the jury left it out or prove that the decision was unfair.
Seven nominations, but no wins
Ghost of Yōtei did not win any of the seven categories in which it was nominated. The Game Awards results list other winners in those categories. That is separate from the GOTY omission: one describes the outcome of its nominations, while the other describes its absence from the top-category lineup.
Rank #2
- Discover a bold, new story of a warrior in Japan who is on her own mission of vengeance.
- Set 300 years after the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is a standalone experience set in 1600s rural Japan. The story follows a haunted, lone mercenary named Atsu. Thirsty for revenge, she travels through the beautiful, rugged landscapes of northern Japan, hunting those who killed her family many years earlier.
- Sixteen years after her family’s death, Atsu’s quest across Ezo brings her to unexplored lands in search of a gang of six outlaws, but she finds much more than vengeance. Throughout her journey, Atsu will discover unlikely allies, and greater bonds than she could have imagined.
Keep the PlayStation Blog awards separate
PlayStation Blog’s own 2025 reader-voted awards are a different poll, not part of The Game Awards. PlayStation Blog reported nearly 1.5 million votes across 19 categories and listed Ghost of Yōtei among the top placements, including Best Audio Design and Best PS5 Game. Those results show recognition in a separate audience vote; they do not change Yōtei’s Game Awards nominations or wins.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSo was it the “worst snub”?
The award record supports a clear, limited claim: Ghost of Yōtei earned seven nominations, was excluded from the Game of the Year field, and left without a win. Calling that the “worst snub” is a defensible editorial opinion if “worst” means the most conspicuous mismatch between broad category recognition and GOTY exclusion. The results alone cannot rank it objectively against every other omission or explain the jury’s decision.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Winner of the 2014 Kinderspiel des Jahres (Children's Game of the Year) award, it has been recognized as an exceptional game for families.
- Two Games in One! Play Cooperative Mode where everyone works together to beat the ghosts…
- …or try Head Haunter Mode where one person controls the ghosts against up to 4 other players!
- Play as a team to battle ghosts and escape a haunted house with 8 Treasure Jewels before 6 of the rooms become Haunted.
- Cooperative Mode offers both Basic and Advanced options.
Rank #4
- FAST-PACED GHOST HUNT GAMEPLAY: Roll dice, play cards, and make quick tactical decisions as you race to capture escaping ghosts.
- STRATEGY MEETS LUCK: Every dice roll and card draw creates new opportunities, combining randomness with smart decision-making.
- INTERACTIVE FAMILY FUN: Designed for engaging play with friends and family, featuring exciting player interaction and competitive racing mechanics.
- SURPRISE-FILLED CARD PLAY: Building cards, grimoires, and special abilities add twists and unpredictable moments to every game.
- COMPLETE GAME SET: Includes cards, dice, boards, tokens, and unique components like the Clock Tower and Storage Trunk for immersive gameplay.
Rank #3
- Beyond war, ancient beauty endures: Roam vast countryside and expansive terrain to encounter rich characters, discover ancient landmarks and uncover the hidden beauty of Tsushima.
- The rise of the Ghost: Seek support from old friends and new unlikely allies to reclaim Tsushima.
- Mud, Blood and steel: challenge opponents with your katana for an immersive Samurai combat experience.
- Become legends together: play with friends or via online matchmaking in a series of two-player story missions or four-player wave-based survival missions in the legends online co-op
- A whole new island to explore: Travel to Iki Island to investigate rumors of a Mongol presence in a brand-new story with deeply personal stakes.
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