Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was the biggest winner of the night.
It did not come as a surprise that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was the biggest winner at The Game Awards 2025, having won Game of the Year along with eight other awards.
The game’s unique world, intricate narrative, and striking visuals have captured the attention of both critics and players alike, making it a defining title of the year for fans of RPGs and immersive storytelling.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sweeps nine out of thirteen awards
Expedition 33 was nominated in eleven categories (with three actors nominated for one category: Best Performance) and won in nine of them, namely:
- Game of the Year
- Best Game Direction
- Best Narrative
- Best Art Direction
- Lorien Testard for Best Score and Music, Leveled Up by Spotify
- Jennifer English (Maelle) for Best Performance
- Best Debut Indie Game
- Best Independent Game
- Best RPG
The game could have swept all its nominations if not for Battlefield 6 winning Best Audio Design and Wuthering Waves taking the Player's Voice award.
Expedition 33 made waves when it launched in April, selling 500,000 copies within 24 hours and 3.3 million copies in just 33 days despite being available on Xbox Game Pass at launch, eventually surpassing 5 million in October.
The game also previously won six awards at the Golden Joystick Awards, including Ultimate Game of the Year; four awards at the Thailand Game Awards, including Game of the Year; the Breakthrough Award at the Japan Game Awards; and Best Narrative/Storytelling at the TIGA (The Independent Game Developers' Association) Awards.
GosuGamers praised Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for shaping its identity around a compelling central mystery. While the game features stunning visuals and engaging combat, it’s the enigma of the Paintress who can erase entire generations with a single brushstroke that drives the story. Drawing inspiration from mystery-driven RPG classics like Final Fantasy VII and Disco Elysium, the game offers a layered journey that carefully withholds answers to maintain tension. This focus on mystery sets it apart from other RPGs that prioritise exploration or combat.
