The 2025 Adventure Game Hotshot Awards

• Features by Adventure Game Hotspot staff
• Published:

Before we close the book on what was a phenomenal year of new adventure games, there’s one last important item of business to complete: the first ever (and eventually annual) awards presentation of the Hotshots!

There were so many outstanding games released in 2025. Many of them excelled in their own particular areas, and some – a shocking number, in fact – excelled in every area, making this one of the most highly competitive years in memory.

We knew narrowing down a list from a total of nearly 400(!) eligible games would be a challenge, and indeed it was. But there was so much adventuring goodness to go around, we couldn’t NOT launch our own new awards event to celebrate the best of the best. 

The prize? Eternal acclaim as a "Hotshot," plus a vaunted statuette (virtual version) from Adventure Game Hotspot's own logo. This ornamental golden figure aptly represents the hand of an adventurer reaching upward for the promise of treasure, its grasp becoming entwined with a gem-studded chalice filled with untold potential yet to be tasted.

Only original new adventure games released in completed, finished form in the calendar year 2025 were eligible for awards consideration. Remakes, Early Access, and unfinished episodic games were not. 

And now let the Hotshot Awards commence! And remember: there are no losers here, only winners and other fantastic games deserving our attention and acclaim.

Table of Contents

Page 1: You're staring at it
Page 2: Best Story, Setting, Graphics, Music, Acting, New Character, Concept and Gameplay
Page 3: Best Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Sci-fi
Page 4: The Hotspot Highlights
Page 5: Best Modern, Classic-styled Adventures
Page 6: Best Adventure of 2025

First up: Best Story, Setting, Graphics, Music, Acting, New Character, Concept and Gameplay. The Hotshots are...

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