Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Wins Game of the Year at TGA 2025, Defeating Blockbusters with a Historic 9 Trophies.

Photo of author

By Rahul Somvanshi

Game Awards 2025: Complete Winners Guide | Interactive Hub

The Game Awards 2025 concluded on December 11, 2025, with 29 award categories recognizing the year’s most significant achievements in gaming. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG from French studio Sandfall Interactive, dominated the ceremony with nine wins across major categories, including Game of the Year. The French developer’s achievement marks a turning point: indie and mid-budget titles are now defining mainstream gaming recognition, competing equally with major studio productions. According to official sources, the game was developed on a budget of under $10 million—a fraction of traditional AAA production costs. Meanwhile, previous Game Awards coverage shows how this year’s results represent a marked shift in industry priorities. Below is the complete breakdown of winners, key statistics, and how you can stream the full ceremony.

🎮 The Game Awards 2025

Complete Winners Hub

29 award categories, ~145 nominees, and a historic sweep by an independent developer. Explore winners, nominees, and streaming details all in one place.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

9 Awards Won

Game of the Year + Best Narrative, Best RPG, Best Art Direction, Best Performance (Jennifer English), Best Score & Music (Lorien Testard), Best Debut Indie, and Best Independent Game

The standout performer of The Game Awards 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 swept major categories with its creative vision, compelling storytelling, and technical excellence.

29
Award Categories
9
Top Winner Awards
~145
Nominees Across 29 Categories
5+
Streaming Platforms

🎬 Best Narrative

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Story-driven excellence recognizing compelling game narratives.

Related: Story Innovation

🎨 Best Art Direction

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Visual excellence and creative aesthetic achievement.

Related: Visual Design

🎮 Best RPG

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Excellence in role-playing game design and mechanics.

Related: Genre Excellence

🎬 Best Game Direction

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Outstanding game direction and creative vision.

Industry Impact

🎪 Most Anticipated

Grand Theft Auto VI

Community voted most awaited upcoming release. Latest updates →

GTA VI Coverage

🎯 Best Action

Hades II

Action game design and combat mechanics excellence.

Community Awards

⚔️ Best Action Adventure

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Metroidvania and adventure genre brilliance.

Related: Community Games

🏆 Best Community Support

Baldur’s Gate 3

Ongoing developer commitment to player experience.

Community Milestones

🎮 Best Independent

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Indie game innovation and creative achievement.

Industry Updates

🏅 Best Esports Game

Counter-Strike 2

Competitive gaming excellence and esports potential.

Esports Landscape

🎬 Best Adaptation

The Last of Us: Season 2

Game to screen excellence in entertainment.

Related: Media

📱 Best Mobile Game

Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Mobile gaming innovation and player engagement.

See Top Games →

🎮 Notable Winners: Quick Details

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
9 Awards | Game of the Year
Creative indie powerhouse dominating awards across narrative, art direction, performance, and music categories. Recognized for standout storytelling and technical excellence.
Hades II
Best Action
Roguelike game design and fast-paced combat mechanics recognition from The Game Awards judges.
Battlefield 6
Best Audio Design
Audio design and sound engineering excellence recognition. DICE official
Grand Theft Auto VI
1 Award | Most Anticipated
Vice City return in development. Community voted most anticipated release with dual-protagonist setup and procedural world tech.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
2 Awards | Best Action Adventure
Metroidvania sequel recognized for action adventure game design and creative gameplay mechanics.
No Man’s Sky
1 Award | Best Ongoing Game
Continuous development and player support excellence. Recognition for ongoing post-launch updates and community engagement.
Counter-Strike 2
Best Esports Game
Competitive gaming excellence. Team Vitality won Best Esports Team (CS2), and Chovy received Best Esports Athlete recognition.

Official Statements & Industry Reactions
Following the December 11, 2025 ceremony, official posts from developers, publishers, and industry figures celebrated the sweep. The following are verified statements from official accounts and verified sources.

🎮 @SandfallGames Developer
“What a night at #TheGameAwards! Thank you to everyone who helped bring Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to life. Thank you to all our players… Thank you for changing our lives”
📱 @expedition33 Game Account
“What an incredible night at @thegameawards! The free major ‘Thank You Update’ is being rolled out RIGHT NOW!”
🎯 @Kepler_Interact Publisher
“Congratulations to the incredible @SandfallGames! Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Thank You Update available now”
🎮 @PlayStation Official
“C’est magnifique! Congrats to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and @SandfallGames on winning Game of the Year!”
📰 @IGN Media
“BREAKING: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 holds the record for the most awards in a single night.”
💡 Industry Commentary Analysis
“Every AAA studio is asking themselves why they have to spend 20x the budget for a fraction of the sales.”

📺 How to Watch The Game Awards 2025

Twitch

Live streaming platform

YouTube

Main channel coverage

Facebook

Social platform stream

Twitter / X

Updates & commentary

Official Site

TheGameAwards.com

IGN.com

Coverage & analysis

The Game Awards 2025 documented a significant shift in gaming industry recognition. Independent and mid-budget developers gained equal footing with major studios in major categories. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Game of the Year and eight additional awards, while indie titles claimed wins across narrative, art direction, and performance categories. The ceremony featured voting from 154 global media outlets and millions of community members. You can review the official Game Awards website for complete nominations and results. For ongoing gaming industry news and analysis, visit TheGameTribune.

Leave a comment