Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominates The Game Awards 2025 with nine wins

Set in a striking, painterly world, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 centres on a mysterious entity known as the Paintress, who erases people from existence when they reach a specific age, an age that decreases every year. As the countdown nears 33, a group of adults known as the expedition sets out on a dangerous mission to stop her.

Players explore richly detailed environments that resemble living artwork spanning towns, ruins, and varied landscapes while interacting with a wide cast of characters to uncover the world’s history. The game features turn-based combat, encouraging strategic decision-making over fast-paced action.

At its core, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands out for its emotional storytelling, tackling themes of mortality, fate, and the value of life when time is limited. The result is a reflective RPG that blends thoughtful gameplay with a deeply affecting narrative about confronting and possibly changing one’s destiny.

Elsewhere at the ceremony, awards were more evenly distributed, though none matched Sandfall Interactive’s dominance. Arc Raiders won Best Multiplayer Game, beating titles such as Elden Ring: Nightreign and Battlefield 6. Xbox picked up two awards, with Doom: The Dark Ages winning Innovation in Accessibility and South of Midnight taking Games for Impact.

Despite leading in nominations, Sony secured just one win, with The Last of Us: Season 2 claiming Best Adaptation. Nintendo walked away with two awards for its upcoming Switch 2 exclusives. Donkey Kong Bananza won Best Family Game, while Mario Kart World took Best Sports/Racing Game.

Genre awards went to Hades 2 (Best Action), Hollow Knight: Silksong (Best Action/Adventure), Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (Best Fighting), and Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles (Best Sim/Strategy). As expected, Grand Theft Auto 6 was named Most Anticipated Game.