Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Becomes Most Nominated Game Ever

Key Takeaways

1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 received twelve nominations at The Game Awards 2025, making it the most-nominated game in the show’s history.
2. The game launched in April 2025 and has a 100% player approval rating and a 97% critic score on Opencritic.
3. It is nominated for Game of the Year, competing against titles like Death Stranding 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong.
4. Expedition 33 has received nominations for Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Audio Design, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and Best Narrative.
5. The opening ceremony for The Game Awards 2025 will take place on December 11 at 7:30 PM EST in Los Angeles.

It’s been an exciting time for the indie game company Sandfall Interactive, as their title, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has received twelve nominations at The Game Awards 2025. This makes it the most-nominated game in the award show’s twelve-year run.

Universal Acclaim

Launched in April 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 quickly gained widespread praise. The game holds a 100% player approval rating and a 97% score from critics, based on 196 reviews on Opencritic.

Now, it’s recognized as a Metacritic Must-Play, boasting a Metascore of 92 from 84 critic reviews and an impressive 9.6/10 rating from nearly 22,000 player reviews.

Leading the Pack

Currently, Expedition 33 is a top contender at The Game Awards, earning nominations across a variety of categories. It’s up for Game of the Year alongside Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, along with popular indie titles from 2025 like Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades 2, Nintendo Switch 2’s Donkey Kong: Bonanza, and Warhorse Studios’ Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, which focuses heavily on simulation.

In addition, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is eyeing awards in categories such as Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Audio Design, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and Best Narrative.

Standout Performances

The game has also earned three nominations for Best Performances, thanks to standout acting by Ben Starr as Verso, Charlie Cox as Gustave, and Jennifer English as Maelle.

When the nominations were announced, the developers at Sandfall Interactive expressed their joy on X, saying:

“What an honor to be nominated, not just for 2025 GAME OF THE YEAR, but also TWELVE??!! TOTAL NOMINATIONS. There are so many wonderful games this year, and being nominated alongside them makes us SO SO very happy… THANK YOU!!”

The year has been a rollercoaster for Sandfall Interactive, as they have revitalized the JRPG genre with Expedition 33. However, the competition is fierce; Ghost of Yotei and Death Stranding 2 are each vying for seven nominations, followed by Hades 2 with six, Hollow Knight: Silksong with five, and Split Fiction with four.

The opening ceremony for The Game Awards 2025 is set to take place on December 11 at 7:30 PM EST at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. This year has been significant for gaming, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leading the way.

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