Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has officially taken home Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025, a remarkable achievement for the small indie team at Sandfall and Kepler Interactive. The win isn’t exactly shocking, as the game has captivated players worldwide with its emotional story and incredibly immersive world-building, setting a new standard in the industry.
Nominated for 12 awards in total, the GOTY victory might have been expected by those who’ve experienced the unforgettable RPG, but it’s still an outstanding milestone for a brand-new indie studio competing against big-budget AAA titles this year.
Clair Obscur Beats Out Some Great Contenders
It Was A Stellar Year For Indie Games & RPGs
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 taking home GOTY wasn’t a big surprise for fans of the Belle Époque-inspired indie sensation, but it was far from an easy win. This year’s lineup was packed with incredible titles, including the must-play 2025 RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 from Warhorse Studios, which spent much of the year overshadowed by Clair Obscur. RPG lovers shouldn’t overlook KCD2—it’s well worth the time. Other heavy hitters included Hideo Kojima’s cinematic marvel, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, the one game that could match Clair Obscur’s emotional depth. The competition was fierce, with the nominee list serving as inspiration for developers worldwide, especially those working with fewer resources than big-budget AAA studios. Clair Obscur held its own against Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight: Silksong and Supergiant Games’ Hades 2, making half of this year’s contenders products of relatively small indie teams.
Last but not least, Donkey Kong Bananza was a major 2025 release that won over both critics and fans, and is arguably the Switch 2’s biggest and most successful title to date, showcasing the new console’s full potential.
Why Clair Obscur Des?erves To Win GOTY 2025
Clair Obscur Hits On Another Level
Few games pull you into their worlds as effortlessly and beautifully as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. From the very first moments of the prologue, it’s clear this is something unique and special. Its gripping story is brought to life by unforgettable characters you grow to love—or despise—through each act. The emotional backstories and sharp, heartfelt dialogue hit harder than most games in recent memory, tackling some of the toughest human experiences of our time. While every GOTY nominee has its strengths, none match Clair Obscur’s blend of rich storytelling and engaging gameplay, mixing classic Final Fantasy-style turn-based combat with just a touch of soulslike dodge-and-parry mechanics that enhance rather than frustrate. It’s amazing to see how far the game has come since its modest launch earlier this year, with Sandfall Interactive—a tiny studio with limited resources—proving what’s possible when a passionate, creative team has a clear vision. If any game deserves 2025’s Game of the Year, it’s this one.
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