Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has secured 291 Game of the Year awards in 2025, ranking third all-time and surpassing Baldur's Gate 3. The turn-based RPG from debut studio Sandfall Interactive dominated awards like The Game Awards and Golden Joysticks, emerging as the defining title of the year.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG developed by Sandfall Interactive, has achieved remarkable acclaim in 2025, tallying 291 Game of the Year wins according to a detailed tally by ResetEra user Angie. This places it just behind The Last of Us Part II's 326 wins and Elden Ring's leading 435, while pushing Baldur's Gate 3's 288 victories to fourth.
The game, a debut effort from a team of former Ubisoft developers dissatisfied with big-studio constraints, blends Final Fantasy-style grandiose storytelling and magical battles with Paper Mario-inspired timing-based mechanics. Its grief-driven narrative features misdirection, twists, and a devastating late-game decision that has sparked ongoing fan debates. Despite industry pressures toward live-service models, Clair Obscur succeeded without such elements, becoming a symbol of focused, single-player RPG excellence.
Wins include top honors at The Game Awards 2025 and Golden Joysticks, alongside picks from numerous global media outlets. As Kotaku noted, it represents hopes for indie-ish triumphs amid 'slop and live-service money sinks,' with its cast of characters inspiring fan art and cosplay.
The game's engaging parry system highlights its depth: one player, 'Recordbreaks,' defeated the challenging Duolliste boss—added in December's free Thank You Update—over 8 hours, executing 10,545 parries. This feat, aided by skills like Angel Eyes and Healing Parry, underscores the title's masterful mechanics in a genre often reliant on grinding.
Overall, Clair Obscur's success signals potential for more ambitious, narrative-driven games, earning respect for Sandfall's bold vision.
