Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed Game of the Year and four other major awards at the 29th annual DICE Awards, surpassing Elden Ring's record for most GOTY wins. The 2025 title beat nominees including Arc Raiders, Blue Prince, Dispatch, and Ghost of Yōtei, adding to its ongoing acclaim into 2026.
The 29th DICE Awards, organized by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, celebrated excellence from 63 nominated video games across 23 categories. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive was the standout, securing five trophies: Game of the Year (beating Arc Raiders, Blue Prince, Dispatch, and Ghost of Yōtei), Role-Playing Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Story, and Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction. It was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Character (Esquie and Maelle) but did not win that honor. The win marks the most Game of the Year awards for any title, overtaking Elden Ring.
Ghost of Yōtei by Sucker Punch Productions earned three awards: Adventure Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition, and Outstanding Achievement in Character (Atsu). Death Stranding 2: On the Beach won two: Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design and Outstanding Technical Achievement. Blue Prince also took two: Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game and Outstanding Achievement in Game Design.
Genre winners included Hades II (Action Game of the Year), Mario Kart World (Racing Game of the Year), Arc Raiders (Online Game of the Year), South of Midnight (Outstanding Achievement in Animation), The Alters (Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year), Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection (Fighting Game of the Year), LEGO Party! (Family Game of the Year), and Persona 5: The Phantom X (Mobile Game of the Year).
The ceremony highlighted diverse genres, from immersive reality titles like Ghost Town to fresh indie efforts. KitGuru noted: 'Seeing a fresh IP from a relatively new studio beat out industry juggernauts for Game of the Year is a rare and refreshing sight.' Clair Obscur's success underscores persistent industry recognition for the 2025 release.
