The Game Awards 2025: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins Game of the Year

The Game Awards 2025, held on December 11, celebrated the biggest achievements in the global gaming industry, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerging as the biggest winner of the night. The critically acclaimed title not only claimed the prestigious “Game of the Year” award but also swept several major categories, reaffirming its impact on players and critics alike.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Emerges as the Biggest Winner

Multiple Major Wins at The Game Awards 2025

At The Game Awards 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominated the ceremony by securing top honours across multiple categories. Alongside winning “Game of the Year”, the title also bagged awards for “Best Independent Game” and “Best Narrative”, highlighting its strong storytelling, artistic direction, and gameplay innovation.

The game’s success extended further, as it also won “Best Art Direction”, “Best RPG”, “Best Game Direction”, “Best Score and Music”, and “Best Debut Indie Game”, making it one of the most awarded titles in the history of the event.

Other Key Winners at The Game Awards 2025

Best Mobile, Esports and Anticipated Titles

The award for “Best Mobile Game” was claimed by Umamusume: Pretty Derby, while Counter-Strike 2 secured the title of “Best Esports Game”, continuing its dominance in competitive gaming.

As widely predicted, “Most Anticipated Game” went to Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 6, which is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, unless the publisher revises its launch plans.

What Is The Game Awards?

About the Annual Global Gaming Event

For those unfamiliar, The Game Awards is an annual international event that honours excellence across the video game industry. The ceremony features major award announcements, global premieres, and reveals from leading developers and publishers, making it one of the most watched gaming events worldwide.

The Game Awards 2025: Full Winners List

Major Categories and Winners

• Game of the year: Clair Obscur - Expedition 33

• Best mobile game: Umamusume - Pretty Derby

• Best esports game: Counter-Strike 2

• Best independent game: Clair Obscur - Expedition 33

• Best adaptation: The Last of Us - Season 2

• Best action game: Hades II

• Best family game: Donkey Kong Bananza

• Best fighting game: Fatal Fury - City of the Wolves

• Most anticipated game: Grand Theft Auto 6

• Innovation in accessibility: Doom - The Dark Ages

• Games for impact: South of Midnight

• Best ongoing game: No Man's Sky

• Best audio design: Battlefield 6

• Game changer: Girls Make Games

Genre and Creative Excellence Awards

• Best action adventure game: Hollow Knight - Silksong

• Best art direction: Clair Obscur - Expedition 33

• Best sim/strategy game: Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles

• Best debut Indie game: Clair Obscur - Expedition 33

• Best sports/racing game: Mario Kart World

• Best community support: Baldur's Gate 3

• Best VR/AR game: The Midnight Walk

Narrative, Music and Direction

• Best RPG: Clair Obscur - Expedition 33

• Best narrative: Clair Obscur - Expedition 33

• Best multiplayer: Arc Raiders

• Best game direction: Clair Obscur - Expedition 33

• Best score and music: Clair Obscur - Expedition 33 (Lorien Testard)

Esports and Creator Awards

• Best esports team: Team Vitality - Counter-Strike 2

• Content creator of the year: MoistCr1TiKaL

• Best esports athlete: Chovy

• Player's voice: Wuthering Waves

• Best performance: Jennifer English (Expedition 33)

Why The Game Awards 2025 Stood Out

The 2025 edition showcased the growing diversity of the gaming industry, celebrating indie excellence, blockbuster titles, esports dominance, and meaningful storytelling. The overwhelming success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 reflected the industry’s shift toward immersive narratives and artistic innovation.