While Megabonk voluntarily withdrew from consideration for Best Indie Game at The Game Awards 2025, it has recently been long-listed as one of 30 fan-favorite titles competing in the Players' Voice category.
Megabonk initially earned a nomination for Best Debut Indie alongside titles like Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Despelote, and Dispatch. However, developer Vedinad pulled the game from the awards in mid-November, stating that Megabonk did not meet the category's eligibility criteria, as it was not the studio's first published game.
“Being nominated for The Game Awards is an honor and a dream come true for Megabonk, but unfortunately, the game doesn’t qualify under the 'Debut Indie Game' category,” the developer explained. “I’ve previously released games under different studio names, so Megabonk is not my debut title.”
Shortly after, The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley acknowledged the request via a Twitter/X post and confirmed that Megabonk would be removed from the category—which it was.
But that wasn’t the end of Megabonk’s journey at The Game Awards. The game has now also been nominated under the public-vote-based Players' Voice category.
This category includes 30 nominated games, which will be narrowed down across three rounds of fan voting. Megabonk faces major contenders such as Death Stranding 2, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Arc Raiders, Battlefield 6, Hades 2, and Fortnite.
The Game Awards 2025 Players' Voice nominations:
Arc Raiders - Embark StudiosBattlefield 6 - Battlefield Studios/EAClair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Sandfall Interactive/Kepler InteractiveDeath Stranding 2: On The Beach - Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive EntertainmentDelta Force - Team Jade/TiMi Studio GroupDispatch - AdHoc StudioDonkey Kong Bananza - Nintendo EPD/NintendoDoom: The Dark Ages - id Software/Bethesda SoftworksElden Ring Nightreign - FromSoftware/Bandai Namco EntertainmentFinal Fantasy XIV - Square EnixFortnite - Epic GamesGenshin Impact - HoYoverseGhost of Yōtei - Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive EntertainmentHades II - Supergiant GamesHelldivers 2 - Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive EntertainmentHollow Knight: Silksong - Team CherryIndiana Jones and the Great Circle - MachineGames/Bethesda SoftworksKingdom Come: Deliverance II - Warhorse Studios/Deep SilverMario Kart World - Nintendo EPD/NintendoMarvel Rivals - NetEase GamesMegabonk - VedinadNinja Gaiden 4 - Platinum Games/Team Ninja/Xbox Game StudiosNo Man’s Sky - Hello GamesPeak - Aggro Crab/LandfallR.E.P.O. - Semiwork StudiosSilent Hill f - NeoBards Entertainment/KonamiSonic Racing: CrossWorlds - Sonic Team/SegaSplit Fiction - Hazelight Studios/EAWarframe - Digital ExtremesWuthering Waves - Kuro Games
“WE’RE SO BACK,” wrote Vedinad (via Polygon). “Megabonk is nominated for The Game Awards – Players' Voice!! I withdrew from the other nomination because Megabonk didn’t fit that category, but with this new nod, we’re more back than ever. Please go vote!”
Our time with Megabonk was enjoyable. In IGN’s quick review of Megabonk, we wrote: “Among survivors-likes, this one stands out. It’s worth checking out if you’re looking for a title that brings something new to the genre, rather than feeling like a Vampire Survivors clone. The only downside is the limited variety in level design.”
