Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 made history in the Game Awards this 2025 with a record-breaking 12 nominations becoming the most-nominated game in history. Sandfall Interactive Studio made history by leading the nominations and surpassing major AAA productions.
This year, three indie studio titles were nominated for the Game of the Year award 一 a new and hopeful scenario for independent developers. It was a clear lesson for big studios, showing how the investment of time, good practices, and passion can make an indie production shine above even the most expensive projects.
Expedition 33 Takes Home 9 Awards, the Big Winner of The Game Awards
This year’s Game Awards carried a distinctive French flavour, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — the first major project from the French independent studio Sandfall Interactive — taking center stage. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 entered the gala as the most-nominated title in Game Awards history. It went on to win 9 of the 11 categories it was nominated for, breaking another record and becoming the most-awarded video game ever.
Developed by a core team of approximately 30 people, Expedition 33 set out to create a turn-based RPG inspired by classics such as Final Fantasy and Persona. A genre largely overlooked by AAA studios.
The creative director, Guillaume Broch, previously worked in Ubisoft, yet he left the company during the Covid-19 pandemic to found his own studio alongside friends and contacts from the industry.
Its success marked a turning point in gaming history, proving that independent projects can compete on the same stage as major studios. Consequently, the game’s achievements highlight how smaller titles when guided by a clear artistic vision, can shine just as brightly — if not brighter — than the most expensive productions, opening the door for more indie games to claim awards traditionally reserved for AAA releases.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Nine Awards
Best Independent Game
Standing out among Asolum, Ball x Pit, Hades IIand Hollow Knight: Silksong. This recognition underscores the creativity, innovation, and artistic vision in a year filled with indie and AAA releases.
Best Game Direction
It competed in a category against titles such as: Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yōtei, Hades II, and Split Fiction.
Best Narrative
Competing against Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yōtei, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and Silent Hill f, Expedition 33 earned recognition for its exceptional storytelling and narrative.
Best Art Direction
The game’s unique style and art blend Belle Époque and fantasy elements with detailed environments and world design. This award recognised how the narrative and art design tie together in the storytelling.
Best Score and Music
After opening the main event at the Game Awards with a performance of the music in Expedition 33, the game won best score and music in original composition and musical direction.
Lorien Testard received the award as the composer of the video game’s soundtrack.
Best Debut Indie Game
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stood out for its innovative gameplay, visual style, and rich narrative, as a result of blending exploration, puzzles and storytelling in an immersive way.
Best RPG
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Best RPG last night, not only for Its immersive world but for its deep storytelling. Furthermore, its rich narrative and emotional depth kept players invested.
Best performance
Jennifer English accepted the award last night for her role as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In her speech, she dedicated her award to the neurodivergent community, especially to those who feel like life is “stuck on hard mode.”
She also thanked the entire team at Sandfall Interactive, her close supporters, and her girlfriend.
Game of the Year
The release of a free DLC was announced during the acceptance speech for the award. Featuring additional story content, new bosses, and translations into other languages.
For Those Who Come After: A Turning Point in the Video Game Industry
The success of Expedition 33 marks a change in the video game industry. Signs of this change appeared a year ago by Larian CEO Swen Vinckle’s speech, the previous winner of the Game of the Year award (2023) with Baldur’s Gate 3:
“[…] Well, an oracle told me. She said ‘change is coming.’
[…]
The oracle told me that the game of the year 2025 was going to be made by a studio who found the formula to make it up here. It’s stupidly simple, but somehow it keeps on getting lost.
The studio made their game because they wanted to make a game that they wanted to play themselves.
They didn’t make it to increase market shares. […]didn’t make it to serve a brand. They didn’t have to meet arbitrary sales targets or fear being laid off if they didn’t meet those targets.
Furthermore, the people in charge forbade them from cramming the game with anything whose only purpose was to increase revenue, and don’t serve the game design. They didn’t treat their developers like numbers on a spreadsheet.
They didn’t treat their players as users to exploit, and didn’t make decisions they knew were shortsighted in function of a bonus or politics. […] knew that if you put the game and the team first, the revenue will follow. […] They realized that if the developers didn’t have fun, nobody was going to have any fun.[…]”
Nevertheless, we still don’t know who this oracle is. However, after seeing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 win the GOTY last night, we can safely say she was right. Sandfall Interactive has previously said that they would never develop a video game to “win awards”. Their purpose is to create a unique, emotional, and meaningful experience for the players.
World-Premiere Announcements During the Game Awards
These are some of the world-premiere announcements you will want to keep an eye on:
Larian Studios – Divinity
With a theatrical introduction and a striking trailer, Larian Studios announced its return to the Divinity series. In addition, this new title is confirmed to be the largest video game ever developed by Larian, even bigger than Baldur’s Gate 3.
We could be looking at one of the most complex RPGs to date.
Hexworks – Lords of the Fallen 2
Scheduled to launch in 2026, Lords of the Fallen 2 is a dark fantasy action-RPG with intense combat, gigantic bosses, and a world split between the realms of the living and the dead.
Creative Assembly – Total War: Warhammer 40,000
The trailer showcased breathtaking visuals and epic battles. It also highlighted the game’s blend of strategy and fantasy elements. In addition, it hinted at new factions and mechanics.
Wizards of the Coast – Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons
Wizards of the Coast presented Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, an exciting addition to the D&D universe. Furthermore, the game promises to blend classic role-playing elements with innovative storytelling, which enhances both strategic depth and player immersion. Early previews already highlight rich character customization and dynamic combat.
Crystal Dynamics – Two New Tomb Raiders
First, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, scheduled for release in 2026. Is confirmed to be an upcoming action-and-adventure title, serving as a morden reimagining of the original Tomb Raider from 1996.
Next, Tomb Raider: Catalyst, scheduled for release in 2027, will continue the franchise with a new storyline that expands Lara Croft’s adventures even further.