In a historic victory for the French video game industry, the debut title from Montpellier-based studio Sandfall Interactive, “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,” was crowned Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025 in Los Angeles. The role-playing game achieved a near-sweep, winning nine of the eleven awards for which it was nominated.
A Record-Breaking Haul
The game eclipsed major competitors, setting a new record for the most trophies won by a single title in the ceremony’s history. Its awards included Best Independent Game, Best Art Direction, Best Narrative, and Best Score. The win marks the first time a French-developed title has taken the top honor at the prestigious industry event.
A Modest Team’s Monumental Achievement
Developed by a core team of around thirty people—the first shipped game for most of them—”Clair Obscur” stands as a testament to small-team ambition. Creative director Guillaume Broche, accepting the award while wearing a marinière and red beret as a nod to an in-game “Frenchy” costume, dedicated the win to the game’s players and the unsung heroes of game development.
“You have changed our lives and that of our studio,” Broche said from the Peacock Theater stage. He specifically thanked those who publish game development tutorials online, noting, “Before that, we had no idea how to proceed.”
A Global Phenomenon
Set in a post-apocalyptic world reminiscent of Belle Époque Paris, the game has sold over five million copies since its April 2025 release, becoming a global surprise hit. Its success left little for other anticipated titles, with “Hades 2,” “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” and “Donkey Kong Bananza” each winning only a single award.
The victory was handed to the team by fellow French developer Nicolas Doucet of Team Asobi, last year’s winner for “Astro Bot.” The award for Best Score went to 31-year-old French composer Lorien Testard, for whom “Clair Obscur” was also a first major project.
The Awards Ceremony and Voting Process
The 12th edition of The Game Awards, streamed live online and for the first time on Amazon’s Prime Video, featured appearances from celebrities including actor Jeffrey Wright and director J.J. Abrams. According to the official ceremony website, the winners are determined by a blended vote: a jury of over 100 global media and influencer outlets accounts for 90% of the result, with fan voting comprising the remaining 10%.
