The Game Awards 2025 was supposed to be a battle between industry titans. Instead, it became a coronation for a dark fantasy indie game that nobody saw coming.
In a night broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 didn’t just win; it dominated. The atmospheric RPG took home a staggering nine awards, including the night’s top honor: Game of the Year.
It was a historic upset. Clair Obscur beat out massive blockbusters like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, proving that 2025 was officially the year of the indie.
Here is the breakdown of the night’s biggest surprises, the major trailer reveals, and the complete winners list.
The “Clair Obscur” Phenomenon
If you haven’t played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 yet, you are about to hear about it everywhere. The game swept nearly every major category it was nominated in, including Best Narrative, Best Game Direction, Best Score & Music, and Best Performance (Jennifer English).
Taking home both Best Independent Game and Game of the Year is a rare feat, signaling a major shift in what players—and critics—value right now.
What is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
If this game flew under your radar until tonight, you aren’t alone—but it is dominating the conversation for a reason.
Developed by the French indie studio Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a reactive turn-based RPG that blends Final Fantasy-style combat with high-stakes, real-time action (think Paper Mario or Lost Odyssey but with modern AAA polish).
- The Premise: The game is set in a stunning world inspired by Belle Époque France. Every year, a mysterious entity known as “The Paintress” wakes up to paint a number on a monolith. Everyone of that age instantly turns to smoke and dies. This year, the number is 33. You play as the members of Expedition 33, a group on a suicide mission to destroy the Paintress before she wakes up again.
- Why it Won: Critics praised it for refreshing the stagnant turn-based RPG genre and delivering a visual identity—haunting, surreal, and incredibly detailed—that stood out against this year’s grittier photorealistic shooters.
- Where to Play: It is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It is also available on Xbox Game Pass, which likely helped fuel its massive word-of-mouth popularity leading up to the awards.
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The Biggest Reveals & Trailers
While awards are the focus, millions tune in for the “World Premieres.” This year delivered a heavy mix of nostalgia and new IP.
- The Last of Us Director’s New IP: A bold, unannounced project was teased, steering away from the infected.
- Resident Evil Requiem: Leon S. Kennedy returns in a tense new trailer that set social media on fire.
- Hollow Knight: Silksong Lives: Not only did it finally appear, but it also took home Best Action/Adventure Game, proving the wait was worth it.
- Grand Theft Auto VI: Unsurprisingly took home Most Anticipated Game, keeping the hype train rolling into 2026.
- Invincible Vs: A new fighter arriving in April, featuring a character voiced by rapper Tierra Whack.
The Game Awards 2025: Complete Winners List
Here is every trophy handed out at The Game Awards 2025.
Top Honors
- Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Narrative: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Art Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Genre Awards
- Best Action Game: Hades II
- Best Action/Adventure: Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best RPG: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Fighting Game: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
- Best Strategy/Sim: FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: The Ivalice Chronicles
- Best Sports/Racing: Mario Kart World
- Best Multiplayer: Arc Raiders
- Best Family Game: Donkey Kong Bananza
Indie & Mobile
- Best Independent Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Debut Indie Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Mobile Game: Umamusume: Pretty Derby
Performance & Audio
- Best Performance: Jennifer English (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Best Score & Music: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Lorien Testard)
- Best Audio Design: Battlefield 6
Community & Impact
- Games for Impact: South of Midnight
- Best Ongoing Game: No Man’s Sky
- Best Community Support: Baldur’s Gate 3
- Innovation in Accessibility: Doom: The Dark Ages
- Players’ Voice: Wuthering Waves
Esports & Creators
- Esports Game of the Year: Counter-Strike 2
- Best Esports Team: Team Vitality (CS2)
- Best Esports Athlete: Chovy
- Content Creator of the Year: MoistCr1TiKaL
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