Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the biggest winner at this year’s Game Awards, securing the coveted Game of the Year title in a record-breaking performance. The French-developed role-playing game achieved victories in nine out of the ten categories it was nominated for, marking one of the most successful runs in the ceremony’s history.
The RPG outperformed major competitors including Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades 2, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Its sweeping success confirmed its status as the clear favourite going into the event, where it also held the record for most nominations with 12 nods.
Emotional Storytelling and Creative Vision Drive Success
Set in a haunting world controlled by a supernatural figure known as The Paintress, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 explores themes of mortality and resistance. The Paintress prevents humans from living beyond a certain age, prompting a group of adventurers to embark on a dangerous mission to stop her. Critics and players praised the game’s emotional depth, strong character development, and classic turn-based combat system.
The game won major awards including Best Narrative, Best Role-Playing Game, Best Independent Game, and Best Debut Indie Game. Director Guillaume Broche accepted the Game of the Year award wearing a red beret and striped shirt, celebrating the title’s French identity. He described the journey as a “weird timeline” and thanked his development team and online creators who helped them learn game development from scratch.
Standout Performances and Musical Triumph
Composer Lorien Testard won Best Score and Music for his work on the game. It was his debut video game project. Developers discovered him after he shared homemade compositions on SoundCloud. His music played a key role in shaping the game’s emotional tone.
The Best Performance category featured three nominations from Clair Obscur. Actress Jennifer English won the award for her role as Maelle. She dedicated the honor to neurodivergent individuals, openly referencing her experience with ADHD.
The game missed out on only two awards. Battlefield 6 won Best Audio Design, while Wuthering Waves claimed the fan-voted Player’s Voice award.
Major Announcements and Industry Highlights
The Los Angeles ceremony also delivered major reveals. Fans saw first looks at two new Tomb Raider games, including a remake and a brand-new Lara Croft adventure. New titles announced included Divinity from Larian Studios, a sequel to Control titled Control Resonant, and two new Star Wars games.
Celebrity appearances added to the spectacle. Actor David Harbour announced a new Total War: Warhammer 40K game. Musician Lenny Kravitz revealed his villain role in 007: First Light. New footage from Resident Evil 9, Street Fighter, and PS5 shooter Saros also debuted.
Criticism and Ongoing Industry Concerns
Despite praise for improvements, the Game Awards again faced criticism. Developers raised concerns over job losses in the industry and the discontinuation of the Future Class initiative, which previously highlighted emerging talent. The ceremony’s Game Changer Award went to Girls Make Games, recognizing efforts to encourage young women to pursue careers in gaming.
The night ultimately belonged to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a debut title that reshaped expectations and set a new benchmark for indie and role-playing games alike.
