Game of the Year 2025 – Best Visual Design

Welcome back to our Game of the Year picks for 2025 as we look to hand out our gong for Best Visual Design. Every year, this ends up being a heavily contested category, always swinging between games that impress in terms of sheer fidelity, pushing gaming hardware to the very limit, and titles with peerless art direction that seek to do more with less. More often than not, the winner strikes a deft balance between the two, as proved by this year’s winner…

We’ve always had somewhat of a soft spot for all things Journey. We’re also big fans of anything developer Giant Squid puts their name to, the studio’s previous games – Abzû and The Pathless – have a distinct Journey-like quality to them. So, naturally, Sword of the Sea almost feels tailor-made for us here at TSA, coming full circle with Journey’s art director, Matt Nava, joining forces with Giant Squid for a visually stunning jaunt through carefully crafted vistas.

These games shred dialogue and exposition, presenting their stories through striking set pieces and multi-layered worlds that flit between calmly isolating and full of life. As you play Sword of the Sea, you’ll venture through familiar deserts as well as ruins, and snowy mountains, the hero’s trusty blade capable of transforming these areas into thriving aquariums teeming with enchanting sea life. It’s yet another gorgeous game from Giant Squid and a worthy winner of this year’s award for Best Visual Design.

Lumines Arise – Runner Up

When it comes to the rhythm action genre visuals can be just as important as audio, as proven by Lumines Arise. It may not be quite as entrancing and new-feeling as developer Enhance’s previous game, Tetris Effect, but it comes pretty close, pairing catchy tracks with immersive stage backgrounds and visual effects timed perfectly to match the player’s button presses. Together, these elements offer that near hypnotic sensory experience that elevates the Lumines formula and adds prestige to what started off as a gem for the PlayStation Portable.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Runner Up

Grabbing its second podium finish in this year’s Game of the Year awards, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 really is the full package. Aside from its gripping, emotional narrative and smart evolution of the turn-based RPG formula, it also boasts some of this year’s most jaw-dropping visual set pieces.

Making smart use of ready-made assets for environments and scenery, to let the team put their efforts toward the more impactful “hero assets”, Sandfall conjured up a distinct dream-like surrealness that gives Expedition 33 its own identity, galvanised by Art Nouveau and Belle Époque influences. It breaks free of fantasy and steampunk tropes, imbuing every aspect – from character designs to battle menus – with a masterfully curated touch.

Honourable Mentions (in alphabetical order)

• Ghost of Yotei
• Keeper
• Once Upon A Katamari

Make sure you come back tomorrow, for another aspect and accomplishment of game making to be featured.