Building on its Game of the Year triumph at The Game Awards 2025, Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won a record nine awards out of 12 nominations. The Montpellier studio's debut RPG has sold 5 million copies since April, drawing from Belle Epoque Paris and Japanese RPGs.
Full Awards Breakdown
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 swept nine categories at the Peacock Theater: Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Performance (Jennifer English as Maelle), Best RPG, Best Independent Game, and Best Debut Indie Game. Developer Guillaume Broche accepted GOTY, joking, 'What a weird timeline for us,' while crediting his team and YouTube tutorial creators.
Game and Studio Background
Founded in 2020 in Montpellier by ex-Ubisoft developers Broche and Tom Guillermin, Sandfall Interactive released the turn-based RPG—published by Kepler Interactive—in April 2025. It features rhythm-based combat, emotional storytelling, and endearing characters in a post-apocalyptic world, competing against titles like Death Stranding 2. The game has sold 5 million copies, praised by industry expert Benoit Reinier for its polish.
Macron's Ongoing Support
This is the second time President Macron has praised the team, after calling it a 'shining example of French audacity' in May. His latest Instagram post highlighted national pride, though some recalled his 2023 riot comments on games 'poisoning' youth—which he later clarified as recognizing gaming's artistic value.
