The closest race of the year came down to two studios separated by barely a single percentage point. In the end, Hacksaw Gaming edged ahead to take Best Game Studio 2025, narrowly holding off Nolimit City, with Pragmatic Play securing third. It's a result that reflects consistency rather than a single release - sustained visibility, repeat play, and community loyalty across the entire year. The runner-up field was equally strong, with Shady Lady, ELK Studios, and Print Studios all pulling meaningful support - proof of just how crowded the top end of the industry has become.
Innovation was one of the most fiercely contested categories, but the community ultimately rewarded the studio most associated with risk-taking and mechanical experimentation. Nolimit City takes Best Innovator 2025, narrowly ahead of Shady Lady, whose rise throughout the year did not go unnoticed. ELK Studios completes the podium with a solid third-place finish. Behind them, Hacksaw Gaming and Print Studios remained firmly in the conversation, showing that innovation in 2025 wasn't limited to one design philosophy.
With dozens of high-profile releases competing for attention, winning Best Slot requires more than hype - it requires staying power. Duck Hunters emerged as the community's favourite slot of 2025, claiming first place ahead of Mental 2 and Pirots 4 in a tightly packed top three. The runner-up list reads like a "greatest hits" of the year, with Le Cowboy, Chaos Crew 3, and Fire in the Hole 3 all drawing significant support - a sign that players didn't just vote for one game, but for an entire year's worth of memorable experiences.
If any category delivered a clear, unambiguous message, it was Best Newcomer. Shady Lady dominated the vote, taking the category with a commanding majority and leaving little doubt about the community's favourite new studio of the year. Sneaky Slots secured second place, followed by Wicked Games in third - but this was one of the rare cases where the winner was obvious long before the final tally.
The Bigwinboard Awards are not about marketing budgets or press releases. They are a snapshot of what players actually engaged with, talked about, and returned to throughout the year. These results will now live on the dedicated Bigwinboard Awards 2025 page, where the full rankings for every category are available. To everyone who voted, debated, and argued their case in the comments - thank you for making the 2025 edition one of the most competitive yet.
And yes… the comment section is now officially open.
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