The Game Awards 2025

The Game Awards 2025: Clair Obscur Wins Nine Awards

The Game Awards 2025 delivered one of the most decisive sweeps in the history of gaming. To absolutely noone's surprise. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Game of the Year. but apart from that, it also dominated nearly every category it touched and set a brand new awards record that pushes past The Last of Us Part II’s long-standing milestone.

French studio Sandfall Interactive entered the ceremony with 13 nominations, already making headlines for the highest nomination count ever achieved at the event. By the time the show ended, Clair Obscur walked away with nine victories across major categories that ranged from Best Indie Game to Best Narrative. No other title earned more than one award this year, further boosting the clear notion that Sandfall’s debut RPG captured the spotlight entirely.

Clair Obscur’s Sweeps the Game Awards

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 earned Game of the Year through a combination of artistic ambition, narrative depth and a striking presentation style that resonated strongly with both critics and players. Built by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive, the game carved out an identity defined by its painterly aesthetic and atmospheric storytelling. These strengths translated directly into wins for Best Art Direction, Best Score, Best Narrative and Best Game Direction.

Jennifer English’s acclaimed performance secured yet another trophy for the team, giving the game a strong showing in the performance category as well. Even in categories where the competition was fierce, Clair Obscur stood out as the clear favorite.

While it fell short in two categories, the losses hardly softened its impact. Battlefield 6 claimed Best Audio Design and the community voted Wuthering Waves to victory in the Players’ Voice category. Even with these exceptions, Clair Obscur’s sweep represents one of the most decisive in the event’s history.

A New Record in The Game Awards

For years, the record to beat belonged to The Last of Us Part II with seven wins at the 2020 ceremony. In 2025, Sandfall Interactive not only challenged but surpassed that achievement. Securing nine awards on a first major release is a rare industry milestone and positions the French studio as one of the most exciting creative forces in modern game development.

Breaking the nomination record and the win record in the same year is the kind of performance that reshapes expectations for future shows. It also reinforces the growing influence of European studios in global games media and awards circuits.

Key Highlights From the Full Winners List

Although Clair Obscur stole the show, the wider awards list still showcased a strong mix of genres and publishers. Doom: The Dark Ages secured Innovation in Accessibility, demonstrating id Software’s commitment to inclusive design. South of Midnight earned Games for Impact with its distinctive artistic approach and thoughtful themes.

The ongoing service category saw No Man’s Sky continue its remarkable comeback story with another Best Ongoing Game nod. Baldur’s Gate 3 won Best Community Support, a testament to Larian Studios’ attentive patching and active engagement. Arc Raiders took home Best Multiplayer Game, while Hollow Knight: Silksong finally claimed Best Action and Adventure after years of anticipation.

Esports in The Game Awards

The esports categories reflected a competitive year for Counter-Strike 2. Valve’s shooter took Best Esports Game, while Team Vitality secured Best Esports Team, thanks to a year of consistent performances boosting their career. Chovy, one of League of Legends’ biggest stars, claimed Best Esports Athlete.

Below is the complete list for easy reference.

The Game Awards 2025 Winners

Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Game Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Narrative: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Art Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Score and Music: Lorien Testard for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Audio Design: Battlefield 6

Best Performance: Jennifer English for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Innovation in Accessibility: Doom: The Dark Ages

Games for Impact: South of Midnight

Best Ongoing Game: No Man’s Sky

Best Community Support: Baldur’s Gate 3

Best Independent Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Debut Indie Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Mobile Game: Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Best VR or AR Game: The Midnight Walk

Best Action Game: Hades II

Best Action or Adventure Game: Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best RPG: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Fighting Game: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

Best Family Game: Donkey Kong Bananza

Best Sim or Strategy Game: Final Fantasy Tactics The Ivalice Chronicles

Best Sports or Racing Game: Mario Kart World

Best Multiplayer Game: Arc Raiders

Best Adaptation: The Last of Us Season 2

Most Anticipated Game: Grand Theft Auto VI

Players’ Voice: Wuthering Waves

Content Creator of the Year: MoistCr1TiKaL

Best Esports Game: Counter-Strike 2

Best Esports Athlete: Chovy

Best Esports Team: Team Vitality

 

GG Boost, the Best Elo Boosting Experience!