Every Winner, Every Moment, and the Night Clair Obscur Took Over the Industry
The Game Awards 2025 will be remembered as the night one game did not just win. It dominated. Clair Obscur Expedition 33 walked into the ceremony with momentum and walked out with a legacy. It claimed Nine major awards, set a new all time record, and delivered the kind of sweep that only happens when a studio hits every single target it aims at.
Game Of The Year
Clair Obscur Expedition 33
Clair Obscur earned Game of the Year because it delivered a complete experience. The game combined a painterly visual identity with a combat system that rewarded planning and precision. The story carried emotional weight without leaning on cheap twists. The world felt surreal but grounded. It was the rare release that appealed to critics, players, and developers for different reasons, and that balance is exactly why it stood above everything else this year.
Best Game Direction
Clair Obscur Expedition 33
This award recognises clarity of vision, and Clair Obscur had that from the opening scene. Every design choice served a purpose. The pacing was deliberate. The world design supported the themes. The combat system reinforced the emotional stakes. Nothing felt accidental. The direction showed confidence in the audience and trust in the material, and that confidence is what pushed it ahead of the competition.
Best Narrative
Clair Obscur Expedition 33
The narrative succeeded because it focused on character first. The writing avoided exposition dumps and instead revealed the world through relationships, conflict, and quiet moments. The story balanced surreal imagery with grounded emotional beats, creating a world that felt dreamlike without losing its humanity. It was a narrative that respected the player and expected them to pay attention, and that respect paid off.
Best Art Direction
Clair Obscur Expedition 33
The art direction was not just visually striking. It was functional. The painterly aesthetic supported the themes of memory, decay, and inevitability. Character silhouettes were distinct. Environments communicated tone before a single line of dialogue was spoken. The game looked like a moving illustration without sacrificing clarity or readability. It was a masterclass in visual storytelling.
Best Score and Music
Clair Obscur Expedition 33
The score was built around emotional resonance rather than spectacle. Themes returned at key moments to reinforce character arcs. The music shifted seamlessly between orchestral melancholy and tense rhythmic patterns depending on the situation. It was a soundtrack that elevated the narrative and deepened the atmosphere. The win was expected and deserved.
Best Performance
Jennifer English as Maelle in Clair Obscur Expedition 33
Jennifer English delivered a performance that defined the entire experience. Maelle is a character who carries the emotional weight of the story, and English brought nuance, vulnerability, and strength to every scene. Her delivery grounded the surreal world and gave the narrative its emotional anchor. This was one of the most competitive categories of the night, and the win felt earned.
Best RPG
Clair Obscur Expedition 33
Clair Obscur won this category because it understood what makes RPGs compelling. The progression systems were meaningful without being overwhelming. The combat rewarded strategy rather than reflexes. The choices mattered because they were tied to character development rather than arbitrary branching paths. It was an RPG that respected the genre and pushed it forward at the same time.
Innovation in Accessibility
Clair Obscur Expedition 33
Accessibility was integrated into the design from the beginning rather than added at the end. The game offered flexible combat pacing, visual clarity tools, and input options that allowed more players to experience the story without compromising the intended difficulty. It set a new standard for how accessibility can be woven into a complex RPG.
Best Multiplayer
Arc Raiders
Arc Raiders won because it embraced its identity as a PvPvE extraction shooter and executed that vision with precision. Every match is built around three competing pressures. Other players hunting the same objectives, hostile AI factions that punish careless movement, and the constant threat of losing everything if you fail to extract. The tension rises naturally as the match progresses, and the game forces squads to make real tactical decisions rather than sprinting through predictable encounters. It is a multiplayer experience built around risk, pressure, and controlled chaos, and that design philosophy is exactly what pushed it ahead of the competition.
Best Action Game
Hades 2
Hades 2 won because Supergiant delivered a sequel that respected the original while expanding its systems in meaningful ways. The combat was faster and more expressive. The new mechanics added depth without clutter. The writing and art direction maintained the studio’s signature style while exploring new themes. It was a confident follow up that earned its place.
Best Independent Game
Clair Obscur Expedition 33
Clair Obscur winning Best Independent Game was a statement about where innovation is coming from in the industry. Built outside the traditional publisher system, the game demonstrated a level of artistic ambition and mechanical polish that rivalled and often surpassed major studio releases. Its painterly aesthetic, tightly constructed combat, and emotionally grounded narrative showed what independent teams can accomplish when they are allowed to pursue a singular vision without compromise. This win confirmed that the most daring ideas are still coming from studios willing to take risks rather than follow trends.
Best Family Game
Donkey Kong Bananza
Nintendo delivered a family game that balanced accessibility with challenge. The platforming was tight, the level design was clever, and the cooperative mode encouraged communication rather than frustration. It was a game that worked for younger players without talking down to them and still offered enough depth for adults.
Player Voice Award
Wuthering Waves
This award reflects community passion more than critical consensus, and Wuthering Waves earned it. The game had a strong year with consistent updates, new characters, and a growing global audience. The fanbase mobilised with intensity, and the result was a decisive win.
Most Anticipated Game
Grand Theft Auto 6
This result was a no brainer. The moment Rockstar showed the first trailer, the entire industry shifted around it. No other upcoming release carries the same cultural weight, the same expectation, or the same gravitational pull. GTA 6 is not just another big launch on the horizon. It is the event game of the decade, the kind of release that resets sales records, dominates conversation, and forces every other studio to rethink their calendar. The win was inevitable because the anticipation is universal. Everyone is watching this one.
The Final Tally
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 walked away with Nine major awards and set a new record for the most wins in a single Game Awards ceremony. It dominated every artistic and narrative category and established itself as the defining game of 2025.
This was not just a successful night for the game. It was a moment that will influence how studios think about risk, style, and storytelling for years to come.
to see our opinions on some of the winners check out respawn outpost’s reviews here
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