LOS ANGELES — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a French-developed role-playing video game, delivered an unprecedented performance at the 2025 Game Awards in Los Angeles, earning nine major trophies, including the night’s most coveted prize: Game of the Year.
The title, created by Sandfall Interactive, a Montpellier-based independent studio, stood out in a field of heavyweight competitors and set a new record for the number of awards won by a single game in the ceremony’s history.
Among its accolades were Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Independent Game, Best Role-Playing Game and Best Game Direction, reflecting broad recognition from the global gaming industry for both creative and technical achievement.
Released in April 2025, Expedition 33 has already become a commercial success, selling millions of copies worldwide and drawing praise for its immersive storytelling, artistic style, and innovative mechanics.
The Game Awards event, often compared to the Oscars of video gaming, also included previews of upcoming titles and announcements from major publishers, but the night belonged to the French team whose modestly sized development crew outpaced larger studios.
The historic win marks a milestone for French video game development, further cementing the rise of narrative-driven and artistically ambitious games in the global marketplace.
