The excitement for The Game Awards 2025 is building, especially around the fiercely competitive Best Multiplayer Game category. A recent survey by Game Rant among its readers shows that the newly launched cooperative shooter ARC Raiders has become the clear community favorite. It received 33 percent of all votes, putting it ahead of both popular franchises and indie games on the nomination list. This highlights its strong launch and immediate appeal.
The poll results clearly favor ARC Raiders. In a distant tie for second place were two different choices, each securing 18 percent of the vote. One option was Battlefield 6, which many players and critics have noted as a great return for the long-running military shooter series. The other contender in this group was a collective vote for “Other,” representing games that the community believed deserved a nomination but were left off the official list. This indicates that a significant number of readers think the official nominees do not fully capture the variety of high-quality multiplayer games released this year.
Further down the list, the poll revealed how other nominated titles fared. The indie hit PEAK received a notable 12 percent of the vote, a major accomplishment for a smaller game compared to larger AAA titles. This shows the community values games that focus on fun and unique experiences, no matter their development scale. On the other hand, two major releases, Split Fiction and Elden Ring Nightreign, received more modest support with 10 and 9 percent respectively. Split Fiction was expected to be a strong contender for the Game of the Year award, so its lower standing in the multiplayer category is surprising and might reflect a crowded release window.
These community predictions highlight a highly competitive year for multiplayer games. The large number of quality titles meant that several critically acclaimed games, such as Marvel Rivals and Borderlands 4, did not receive nominations, further showcasing the diverse selection in 2025. While the Game Rant poll indicates strong support for the fast-paced action of ARC Raiders, the final decision rests with The Game Awards jury. The results are eagerly awaited and will be announced on December 11, wrapping up one of the closest races for the Best Multiplayer Game award in recent memory.
