Rachel Kaser Presents the 2025 Video Game Awards: A Completely Serious Affair

April 28, 2026 - 22:58

In a year overflowing with blockbuster releases, indie darlings, and technical marvels, GamesBeat’s Rachel Kaser has decided to cut through the noise with her own highly curated—and entirely serious—awards for the best video games of 2025. While other outlets focus on categories like “Best Narrative” or “Technical Achievement,” Kaser’s list takes a refreshingly direct approach, honoring the moments and mechanics that truly matter to players. The awards, which she insists are “not in the slightest bit ridiculous,” celebrate everything from the most satisfying jump-scare to the most elegantly designed inventory menu. One category, for instance, honors the game that best makes you feel like an absolute genius for solving a puzzle that was actually quite simple. Another award goes to the title with the most realistic depiction of a cat knocking objects off a table. Kaser’s selections highlight the often-overlooked details that define the gaming experience, from the perfect pause screen music to the most satisfying sound effect when opening a treasure chest. The list also includes a special commendation for the game that features the most aggressively unnecessary quick-time event. While the awards may sound lighthearted, Kaser argues that these elements are crucial to a game’s overall enjoyment. “We spend hours analyzing story arcs and frame rates,” she writes, “but we rarely stop to appreciate the little things that make us smile.” The 2025 list has already sparked debate among fans, with many arguing that their own favorite “best accidental ragdoll physics moment” was snubbed. Regardless, Kaser’s awards serve as a playful reminder that video games are, at their core, about having fun—even when you’re pretending to be very, very serious.