Hold on to your controllers, folks, because the 2025 Game Awards just delivered a massive upset! Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a relatively unknown RPG from French developer Sandfall Interactive, absolutely dominated the show, snatching the coveted Game of the Year award and a staggering eight other trophies. Yes, you read that right – nine wins! But how did this under-the-radar title manage to dethrone heavy hitters like Death Stranding 2 and the highly anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong? Let's dive in.
According to Tom Richardson of BBC Newsbeat, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 triumphed in categories including Best Narrative, Best Music, and Best Performance, proving its across-the-board excellence. It's a remarkable achievement, especially considering the formidable competition it faced: the star-studded Death Stranding 2, Nintendo's vibrant Donkey Kong Bananza, the indie darlings Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades 2, and the gritty medieval world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
The Game Awards ceremony, held in the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles, wasn't just about handing out awards, though. Gamers were also treated to exciting first looks at upcoming titles like new Tomb Raider games (more on that surprise in a bit!), Control Resonant, and a brand-new Star Wars RPG. The hype was real!
So, what exactly is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? The game plunges players into a captivating world terrorized by a supernatural entity known as The Paintress. This being prevents the population from aging beyond a certain point, creating a society teetering on the brink of despair. You play as a group of adventurers embarking on a perilous quest to defeat The Paintress and restore balance to the world. Critics and players alike have lauded the game's emotionally resonant storytelling and its engaging, old-school turn-based combat system. Think Final Fantasy meets a dark fairytale.
But here's where it gets even more interesting: the story behind the developers is almost as compelling as the game itself. Sandfall Interactive is a team of former Ubisoft employees who left the AAA giant to pursue their passion project. This detail resonated deeply with players, adding another layer of appreciation for the game's success. It’s a classic underdog story, and who doesn’t love that?
Accepting the Game of the Year award, a visibly emotional Guillaume Broche, the game's director, sporting a quintessential French red beret and striped t-shirt, described the year as a "weird timeline" for the studio. He humbly thanked his team and, in a truly heartwarming moment, acknowledged the "unsung heroes" of the industry – the creators of YouTube tutorials who helped them figure out how to actually make a game! It's a testament to the collaborative spirit of the gaming community.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 entered the awards as a frontrunner, boasting a record-breaking 12 nominations. Lorien Testard, the game's composer, won Best Score and Music – an incredible feat considering this was his debut project! Testard's journey is equally inspiring; he was discovered after posting his homemade video game music on SoundCloud. Talk about a dream come true!
The game also swept the Best Role-Playing Game, Best Independent Game, and Best Debut Indie Game categories. Interestingly, three of its nominations were for Best Performance, with Jennifer English ultimately winning for her portrayal of Maelle. In a poignant acceptance speech, English, who has openly discussed her ADHD, dedicated the award "to every neurodivergent person watching." Representation matters, and this was a powerful moment.
Clair Obscur only missed out on two awards. Battlefield 6 snagged Best Audio Design, and the open-world action RPG Wuthering Waves surprisingly won the fan-voted Player's Voice award. Other notable winners included Donkey Kong Bananza for Family Game, Arc Raiders for Best Multiplayer, Hollow Knight: Silksong (finally!) for Best Action-Adventure, and Umamusume: Pretty Derby for Best Mobile Game.
Now, let's talk about the surprises. Beyond the Clair Obscur sweep, one of the biggest announcements of the night was a new RPG from Larian Studios, the masterminds behind 2023's Game of the Year, Baldur's Gate 3. The reveal was teased with a mysterious statue appearing in the California desert, adding to the intrigue. While a remake of the original Tomb Raider had been leaked, the announcement of a second, entirely new Tomb Raider game starring Lara Croft caught everyone off guard. This is where things get interesting... will this new Tomb Raider direction be a welcome change, or will it alienate long-time fans? What do you think?
The event also featured the cast of the upcoming Street Fighter movie adaptation (minus 50 Cent) presenting the first trailer, and new footage from Resident Evil 9, confirming the return of fan-favorite Leon Kennedy, and the reveal of the PS5 shooter Saros.
Of course, no discussion of the Game Awards is complete without addressing the criticisms. Often called the "Oscars of gaming," the event, hosted by Geoff Keighley, is a blend of awards ceremony and trailer showcase. Critics argue that it often prioritizes advertising over recognizing the achievements of developers, with winning speeches sometimes cut short and on-stage presentations omitted in certain categories. There was some improvement in 2024, but calls for Keighley to address industry issues, such as the high number of job losses, persist. And this is the part most people miss: the awards have even faced accusations of abandoning its Future Class scheme, an initiative designed to highlight rising stars in the industry. Alumni of the program have criticized it as being tokenistic and not providing sufficient support. Last year’s show did give out a new game changer award to Amir Satvat for his work helping laid-off developers find jobs, but is it enough? Is the Game Awards truly doing enough to support the gaming community, or is it primarily a marketing spectacle? This is a question worth pondering.
BBC Newsbeat has reached out to the organizers for comment on these criticisms.
So, what are your thoughts on the Game Awards 2025? Were you surprised by Clair Obscur's victory? What announcements excited you the most? And do you think the Game Awards adequately balances celebrating achievements with promoting upcoming games? Let us know in the comments below!
