Game Awards 2025 Winner

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been crowned Game of the Year after a record-setting night at this year’s Game Awards. 

The title overcame strong competition from Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades 2, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 to take the top honor.

A Breakout RPG With a Unique World

Set in a haunting world ruled by a supernatural figure known as The Paintress, Clair Obscur follows a group of adventurers attempting to stop a curse that limits human lifespan.

The game earned praise for its emotional storytelling, striking artistic direction, and classic turn-based combat inspired by old-school RPGs.

Its strong narrative and distinctive identity helped set it apart in a crowded field of high-profile releases.

Major Wins Across Multiple Categories

In addition to Game of the Year, Clair Obscur won awards for Best Narrative, Best Score and Music, Best Role-Playing Game, Best Independent Game, and Best Debut Indie Game. 

The game also dominated the Best Performance category, which included three nominations from the same title.

Developer Sandfall Interactive Celebrates Milestone

The success of Clair Obscur also highlighted the journey of Sandfall Interactive, a studio formed by former Ubisoft developers who left to pursue a passion project.

Director Guillaume Broche accepted the Game of the Year award on stage in Los Angeles, acknowledging his team and describing the past year as an unexpected and surreal experience.

Broche also credited online educators and tutorial creators for helping the team navigate game development during the project’s early stages.

Other Notable Winners of the Night

Clair Obscur narrowly missed out on two awards. Battlefield 6 claimed Best Audio Design, while Wuthering Waves won the fan-voted Player’s Voice category.

Donkey Kong Bananza earned Best Family Game, Arc Raiders won Best Multiplayer, and Hollow Knight: Silksong took home Best Action Adventure. Umamusume: Pretty Derby was named Best Mobile Game.

The honorary Game Changer award was presented to Girls Make Games, a nonprofit organization focused on encouraging young women to pursue careers in game development.

Big Reveals and Celebrity Appearances

As expected, the Game Awards also delivered several major announcements. New Tomb Raider titles were revealed, alongside Control Resonant and a new Star Wars role-playing game.

David Harbour appeared to announce a Total War: Warhammer 40K title, while Lenny Kravitz revealed his role in the upcoming James Bond game 007: First Light.

Fans also received new footage from Resident Evil 9, confirmation of Leon Kennedy’s return, and previews of upcoming titles such as Saros and Divinity from Larian Studios.

Ongoing Criticism Surrounding the Ceremony

Despite the celebration, criticism of the Game Awards continues. Some developers argue the show prioritizes trailers over recognition, with speeches often cut short.

The absence of the Future Class initiative, which previously highlighted rising talent in the industry, also sparked backlash ahead of the ceremony.

Even so, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s sweeping success ensured the night will be remembered as a defining moment for the studio and one of the most dominant wins in Game Awards history.