In one of the most defining nights the gaming industry has seen in years, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominated The Game Awards 2025, taking home Game of the Year and eight additional major honors—an unprecedented feat for the atmospheric, narrative-rich RPG from French indie studio Sandfall Interactive.
Held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and broadcast live to millions worldwide, this year’s Game Awards celebrated everything from blockbuster games to boundary-pushing indie titles. Yet amid the spectacle, Expedition 33 shone the brightest, dominating categories typically reserved for big-budget productions and reinforcing the growing influence of independent developers on the global stage.
Already entering TGA 2025 as the most nominated title in the show’s history, Sandfall’s debut project delivered on the hype, converting nearly all its nominations into wins and solidifying itself as one of the defining games of the decade.
All awards won by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at The Game Awards 2025
- Game of the Year
- Best Game Direction
- Best Indie Game of the Year
- Best Art Direction
- Best Debut Indie Game
- Best RPG
- Best Narrative
- Best Score and Music – Lorien Testard
- Best Performance – Jennifer English
Expedition 33 won every single category it was nominated for—except Player’s Voice, the show’s fully fan-voted award. Its sweeping success marks a pivotal moment for indie creators, demonstrating that smaller studios with bold ideas and meticulous craftsmanship can compete toe-to-toe with the industry’s juggernauts.
The win also highlights a trend throughout 2025 showing audiences and critics increasingly gravitating toward artistic, emotionally resonant experiences over pure spectacle. The game’s haunting aesthetic, seamless blend of turn-based and action mechanics, and gripping performances from Jennifer English and Ben Starr helped propel it to global acclaim.
This isn’t the first time Expedition 33 cleaned house. Earlier this year, the title dominated the Golden Joystick Awards 2025, earning Game of the Year, Best Storytelling, Best Visual Design, Best Soundtrack, Best Supporting Performer (Ben Starr), Best Lead Performer (Jennifer English), and Studio of the Year for Sandfall Interactive, totaling to seven wins.
Combined with its TGA haul, Expedition 33 is now widely considered the breakout success story of 2025, catapulting Sandfall Interactive into the ranks of the industry’s most exciting studios.
Beyond Sandfall’s historic sweep, several standout titles earned well-deserved recognition, including ARC Raiders (Best Multiplayer Game), Hollow Knight: Silksong (Best Action/Adventure Game), and CS2 (Best Esports Game). For a complete rundown of the results across all categories, check out our full list of The Game Awards 2025 winners.
Published: Dec 11, 2025 11:38 pm