Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was the talk of the town at The Game Awards 2025, gaming’s annual celebration of the best and brightest in interactive entertainment over the past year.
The ceremony in Los Angeles brought together developers, players, streamers, and industry figures for a packed night of trophies, trailers, and glimpses into what’s next.
But the standout was Clair Obscur, a turn-based RPG developed by French studio Sandfall Interactive.
As predicted by many gaming fans, not only did the indie game win Game of the Year, but it also dominated multiple major categories, including Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, Best RPG, Best Score and Music, and Best Performance.
Gamers hailed its narrative depth, artistic design, and emotional resonance as it struck a chord strong enough to outshine heavy hitters on the nominations list.
The brains behind the massive hit flew in from France to claim their trophy haul while wearing traditional marinière shirts and red berets, underscoring the cultural pride behind the victory.
Beyond Obscur
Veteran franchises and relative newcomers also shared the stage, reflecting the diversity of modern gaming – from sprawling RPGs to tactical shooters and narrative adventures.
Battlefield 6 won Best Audio Design for its immersive soundscape, while Hades II earned Best Action Game.
Long-running favourites Donkey Kong Bananza and No Man’s Sky took home Best Family Game and Best Ongoing Game trophies, respectively.
Titles like Death Stranding 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II earned attention and praise even without taking the top crown, illustrating a year in gaming rich with variety and innovation.
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What’s next
Gamers are in for more hours of travelling through virtual worlds and fighting off digital demons in the coming years.
Trailers and world premieres punctuated the evening, teasing future titles and expanding universes players have been waiting years to explore.
Despite being an internet meme at this point, Grand Theft Auto VI clinched the Most Anticipated Game award ahead of its release.
The highlights also included a new Divinity project from Larian Studios, two different Star Wars games, and fresh Tomb Raider installments, with each generating immediate buzz across the gaming community.
From emotional turn-based epics to blockbusters yet to launch, the night ended as it began – with excitement in every direction and an industry continuing to evolve in scale, ambition, and imagination.
Game on.
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