GAM3 Awards 2025: Manila Hosts Second In-Person Edition of Major Web3 Gaming Event on November 21st

The GAM3 Awards 2025 returns to Manila for its second in-person edition on November 21st, establishing itself as the largest annual Web3 gaming awards event. Held during one of the premier Web3 gaming summits in Bonifacio Global City, the event promises new categories, expanded prize pool, and participation from industry veterans from both traditional and Web3 gaming.

Renewed Awards Structure and Voting Process

The GAM3 Awards 2025 features a renewed jury panel of over 80 industry experts, including representatives from venture capital, blockchain networks, ecosystem specialists, and major tech companies like Amazon, Google, OpenSea, Oasys, and XAI. The voting system maintains balance between technical expertise and community engagement, with 90% weight in the jury's hands and 10% from the community for most categories.

Special categories like the People's Choice Award and Best Content Creator are decided entirely by the community, while the Games' Choice Award allows game studios themselves to vote for their favorite games. The GAM3 Changer Award recognizes individuals making significant contributions to Web3 gaming, nominated by peers in the development field.

Strategic Three-Phase Nomination Process

The nomination process operates in three distinct phases: Phase 1 (September 22nd to October 17th) allows open community nominations, selecting the top 30 games and creators; Phase 2 (October 6th to 13th) involves jury voting to determine the top five finalists per category; Phase 3 (October 20th to November 17th) combines jury and community voting to choose the winners.

As additional incentive for participation, fans who participate in the nomination and voting process compete for prizes including gaming consoles, PCs, and other items, transforming the event into an interactive experience beyond mere viewing.

Strategic Positioning in the Philippines and Regional Impact

The Philippines has established itself as a fundamental hub for Web3 gaming, housing some of the most passionate communities and early adopters in the space. The choice of Manila as host reflects recognition of this regional importance and proximity to the player base that actively uses these games.

The event will be held during one of the premier Web3 gaming summits, frequently called the "GDC of Web3 gaming," offering an ideal environment that combines tournaments, exhibitions, and community activities focused on the player experience. This synergy between summit and awards creates a unique celebratory atmosphere in the ecosystem.

Rigorous Evaluation Criteria and Eligibility

Games are evaluated based on criteria such as core loop, accessibility, replayability, fun, graphics, and overall gameplay experience, with only titles having active playable versions being eligible, except for special categories like Most Anticipated Game and People's Choice Award.

This approach ensures that only projects with functional products are recognized, raising industry standards and avoiding recognition of purely speculative projects without real gameplay value.

Industry Growth and Mainstream Recognition

The success of the 2024 edition, where Off The Grid by Gunzilla Games won four awards including the coveted "Game of the Year," followed by Parallel with three awards, demonstrates the sector's growing maturity. The participation of over 300 people in person and exclusive trailer screenings evidence the industry's momentum.

The presence of jurors from traditional companies like Amazon and Google signals mainstream recognition of Web3 gaming as a legitimate gaming industry segment, not just a crypto-speculative niche.

Defined Timeline and Future Expectations

With its fourth year of operation and second in-person edition, the GAM3 Awards has consolidated itself as a reference for quality evaluation in Web3 gaming. The well-structured timeline allows broad community participation while maintaining technical rigor through the specialized jury.

The combination of technical recognition with community celebration positions the event as a catalyst for mainstream adoption, demonstrating that Web3 gaming has evolved beyond technological experiments to commercially viable products.

Industry Impact and Outlook for 2026

The GAM3 Awards 2025 represents an evolutionary milestone for Web3 gaming, establishing quality standards that distinguish serious projects from pure speculation. The rigorous evaluation methodology and mainstream jury participation signal sector maturation.

For the global ecosystem, the event demonstrates how awards can drive development quality, encouraging studios to prioritize engaging gameplay over complex tokenomics. The in-person realization in Manila strengthens the Philippines' position as a center of excellence in Web3 gaming, providing an environment where developers, players, and content creators can celebrate the year's achievements.

As Web3 gaming continues its evolution toward the mainstream, events like the GAM3 Awards that balance technical recognition with community celebration will likely define the standards for quality evaluation and success in the sector.