Clair Obscur Expedition 33 dominated The Game Awards 2025 last night. The stunning turn-based RPG from Sandfall Interactive took home a historic nine trophies, including Game of the Year, in a sweep that left the entire industry speechless.
The ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. As the wins kept coming, the French studio surprised everyone by releasing a massive free “Thank You” update live on stage. Players around the world downloaded it within minutes.
A Record-Breaking Night No One Saw Coming
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 now holds the record for most awards in a single year with nine victories. It easily surpassed the previous record of seven set by The Last of Us Part II in 2020.
The game entered the night with 12 nominations and converted nine of them into wins:
- Game of the Year
- Best RPG
- Best Score and Music
- Best Independent Game
- Best Debut Indie Game
- Best Game Direction
- Best Narrative
- Best Art Direction
- Best Performance (Jennifer English as Maelle)
Jennifer English delivered an emotional acceptance speech and dedicated her award to neurodivergent players everywhere.
The Show Opened with Magic
The night kicked off with a breathtaking live performance of the game’s soundtrack. A full orchestra played the standout track “Une vie à t’aimer” while composer Lorien Testard and flautist Pedro Eustache joined on stage. The crowd gave a standing ovation before a single award had even been announced.
The Game of the Year Moment Everyone Will Remember
When Clair Obscur Expedition 33 won Game of the Year, creative director Guillaume Broche took the microphone and thanked the community in the most unexpected way.
He reminded everyone of a promise the team made months earlier. Then he dropped the bombshell: “That content is out right now. It’s free. Go home and play it.”
The theater exploded. Developers on stage raised their glasses to the fans watching at home.
The Free “Thank You” Update – Available Immediately
The surprise patch adds hours of new content and quality-of-life improvements:
- New explorable zone: Verso’s Drafts
- Brand-new original tracks composed by Lorien Testard
- Endless Tower challenge with brutal new bosses
- Full Photo Mode with advanced options
- Seven additional languages (now supports 19 total)
- Major performance upgrades and bug fixes
Players jumped in immediately, and social media filled with screenshots from the new areas within minutes.
A Tiny French Studio Beats the Giants
Sandfall Interactive is a small team based in Montpellier, France. Clair Obscur Expedition 33 marks their very first game. Published by Kepler Interactive, the debut title just proved that passion and vision can outshine billion-dollar budgets.
The breathtaking Belle Époque-inspired world, deep narrative, and innovative real-time mechanics in turn-based combat have won over millions of players since launch.
Social Media Erupted in Celebration
Twitter/X lit up the second the final award was announced. The official Expedition 33 account posted photos of the team celebrating backstage. Streamers who once doubted the game publicly changed their minds on the spot. Photo Mode shots from the new update are already flooding every platform.
Why This Victory Changes Everything
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 just showed the world that independent studios can dominate the biggest stage in gaming. Turn-based RPGs are officially back in the spotlight. A debut title from France now holds the all-time record at The Game Awards.
The future looks bright. The developers have already hinted at expanding this universe for years to come.
Nine trophies. One unforgettable night. One free update that proves this team truly loves its community.
What’s your favorite moment from the Clair Obscur Expedition 33’s incredible Game Awards run? Drop your thoughts in the comments and keep the conversation going!