Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has won the top honour at The Game Awards 2025, taking home Game of the Year, along with eight other awards at the major industry event.
Sweeping nearly every category it was nominated for, the RPG from independent French studio Sandfall Interactive had one of the most successful showings in the award ceremony’s history.
On top of Game of the Year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 also won Best Independent Game, Best Art Direction, Best Debut Indie Game, Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Game Direction. Actor Jennifer English also won Best Performance for her role as Maelle, while Lorien Testard won Best Score and Music.
Inspired by the Belle Époque period of France, Clair Obscur follows the eponymous Expedition 33 as they seek to stop their loved ones from dying younger and younger due to an event known as the “Gommage”.
It launched in April earlier this year to critical acclaim and widespread praise from players. Modelled after classic Japanese role-playing games, Clair Obscur mixes turn-based combat with real-time elements, adding both strategy and skill to its encounters.
As evidenced by its other awards, Clair Obscur also captured attention for its striking visuals, moving music, and just about every other component that goes into game development.
Also nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025 were Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Hollow Knight: Silksong from Adelaide-based studio Team Cherry. Of its multiple nominations, Silksong did Australia proud on the global stage by winning Best Action Game.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 joins Astro Bot, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Elden Ring as the most recent Game of the Year winners
