Clair Obscur: A Celebrated Victory at the Game Awards

Fri Dec 12 2025 18:14:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The French RPG 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' clinched the coveted Game of the Year title at the Game Awards, triumphing in nine categories including best narrative and best performance.

At the recent Game Awards, 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' emerged as the standout title, sweeping nine of its twelve nominations. This French RPG, praised for its emotional narrative and gameplay, won accolades such as Game of the Year, best narrative, and best music. The game's director, Guillaume Broche, celebrated the team's hard work during the award ceremony while promoting the importance of tutorial creators in the industry. The event also showcased exciting previews for upcoming games like Tomb Raider sequels and Control Resonant.

'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' has been named game of the year at this year's Game Awards.

The French-developed role-playing game (RPG) cleaned up in nine of the ten categories it was nominated for, securing wins in best narrative, best music, and best performance among others.

It triumphed over competitors like 'Death Stranding 2', 'Donkey Kong Bananza', indie titles 'Hollow Knight: Silksong' and 'Hades 2', and medieval adventure 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2' to claim the top prize.

During the awards held in Los Angeles, players were also introduced to upcoming titles, including new 'Tomb Raider' installments, a sequel to 'Control', and a fresh 'Star Wars' RPG.

'Clair Obscur' transports players to a world hindered by a supernatural entity called The Paintress, who restricts the population's aging. The game chronicles the journey of adventurers aiming to defeat this being and has garnered acclaim for its emotional depth and traditional turn-based combat.

The studio behind the game, Sandfall Interactive, was formed by former Ubisoft staff with a shared vision to create their dream project. Broche, the game director, commemorated the award acceptance in a red beret and striped shirt, acknowledging the unique challenges faced during the production and expressing gratitude to tutorial creators who aided their journey.

With 12 nominations, 'Clair Obscur' was the favored title at the awards. Its composer, Lorien Testard, received honors for best score, marking a significant milestone in his music career, first highlighted on SoundCloud.

The game also excelled in the best role-playing game, best independent game, and best debut indie game categories.

In a competitive best performance category, actress Jennifer English won for her role as Maelle, dedicating the award to neurodivergent individuals.

Despite its success, 'Clair Obscur' was edged out in just two categories, with 'Battlefield 6' winning best audio design and 'Wuthering Waves' triumphing in the player-voted category.

The Game Awards, often likened to the Oscars for gaming, intertwines traditional ceremonies with major game reveals. This year, notable premieres included 'Divinity' from the makers of 'Baldur's Gate 3' and a highly anticipated remake of the original 'Tomb Raider'.

Criticism has been directed towards the event's focus on advertisement over awards in previous years, although this ceremony attempted to address such concerns. Developers continue to urge improved recognition of pressing industry issues, especially amidst recent job losses.

This year's Game Awards sparked discussions about the exclusion of the Future Class initiative, which aimed to spotlight rising talents in gaming. After alumni voiced concerns over tokenism last year, the absence of this program drew scrutiny.

For a complete list of winners, visit the Game Awards website.

Clair Obscur: A Celebrated Victory at the Game Awards

The French RPG 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' clinched the coveted Game of the Year title at the Game Awards, triumphing in nine categories including best narrative and best performance.

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