adminArc Raiders Nordic Game Awards recognition included three wins at the ceremony in Malmö, Sweden, on May 28. Embark Studios’ extraction shooter received Nordic Game of the Year, Best Technology and Best Audio, making it the most-awarded title in the main competition.
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Arc Raiders at the Nordic Game Awards
Arc Raiders won the top award from a field that also included Battlefield 6, Dune: Awakening, Split Fiction and My Winter Car. Its additional wins for technology and audio recognized two further aspects of the game, alongside the overall Nordic Game of the Year award.
The results also showed how awards were distributed across the nominees. Split Fiction received four nominations and won Best Game Design, while Battlefield 6 was nominated in three categories but did not take home an award. A nomination indicates recognition in a category; it does not guarantee a win, so checking the full results provides a clearer picture of each game’s outcome.
Nordic Game Awards 2025 winners
- Nordic Game of the Year: Arc Raiders by Embark Studios (Sweden)
- Best Art: The Midnight Walk by MoonHood (Sweden)
- Best Game Design: Split Fiction by Hazelight Studios (Sweden)
- Best Technology: Arc Raiders by Embark Studios (Sweden)
- Best Audio: Arc Raiders by Embark Studios (Sweden)
- Best Fun for Everyone: Lego Voyagers by Light Brick Studio (Denmark)
- Best Debut: Discounty by Crinkle Cut Games (Denmark)
Swedish studios claimed five of the seven awards, which recognize games developed in Nordic territories. Danish studios won the other two: Discounty took Best Debut, and Lego Voyagers received Best Fun for Everyone. When comparing the results, these categories distinguish achievements such as a first release, broad appeal, artistic work and technical execution.
People’s Choice and ceremony highlights
The People’s Choice Award went to Lootbound, developed by Artdock Games in Moldova. This award is separate from the seven main categories: eligible indie exhibitors at Nordic Game can compete, and conference attendees decide the winner by voting.
The ceremony also included a Ukrainian Intermezzo honoring the work of Ukrainian game studios. The segment prompted a standing ovation from the audience. Conference organiser Jacob Riis later took the stage to award audio designer Ari Pulkkinen “legendary” status. Pulkkinen most recently served as audio lead for Saros.
Held on Thursday, the event was the 18th Nordic Game Awards ceremony. Danish actor Magnus Bruun hosted; he played the male version of Eivor in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. In a recent interview, Embark Studios head Patrick Söderlund said Arc Raiders was made on “a quarter of the budget” of a AAA title.
What the Arc Raiders Nordic Game Awards results mean
The results place Arc Raiders at the centre of this year’s Nordic awards, with victories across the overall, technical and audio categories. The full winner list also highlights work from studios in Sweden and Denmark, while the separate People’s Choice result reflects votes from conference attendees. Together, these outcomes offer a useful overview of the games and studios recognized at the Nordic Game Awards.
