If you were watching the livestream on December 11, 2025, you probably felt the shift in the room. Or at least, the shift in the Twitch chat. The Game Awards usually has a predictable rhythm, a back-and-forth between the big AAA titans and the indie darlings that everyone hopes will pull an upset. But the TGA Game of the Year winner for 2025 didn't just win. It basically moved into the Peacock Theater and started charging rent.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 didn't just take the trophy; it broke the show.
Honestly, seeing a debut game from a French studio like Sandfall Interactive walk away with nine wins is unheard of. It even surpassed the record previously held by The Last of Us Part II. We’re talking about a turn-based RPG—a genre some people keep trying to say is "niche"—beating out heavyweights like Kojima’s Death Stranding 2 and the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong.
The TGA Game of the Year Winner That Nobody Saw Coming
When the nominations dropped, the conversation was dominated by the "big" names. We had Hades II, which was already a masterpiece in early access. We had Ghost of Yōtei, Sucker Punch’s follow-up to the legendary Ghost of Tsushima. And then there was Donkey Kong Bananza, proving that Nintendo still knows how to make a platformer that everyone wants to play.
But Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was different.
It’s this weirdly beautiful, high-fidelity turn-based RPG where the world is literally being painted out of existence by a Paintress. Every year, she wakes up and paints a number on a monolith. Everyone that age turns to smoke. It’s a bleak, fascinating concept that felt fresh in a year of sequels.
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Why the Jury Went All-In
There’s a reason this game resonated so hard with the 130-member jury. It wasn't just the "vibe." It was the technical execution. Jennifer English—who you might remember as Shadowheart from Baldur's Gate 3—gave a performance as Maelle that made the "Best Performance" win feel like a foregone conclusion.
The game managed to win in these categories:
- Game of the Year
- Best Game Direction
- Best Narrative
- Best Art Direction
- Best Independent Game
- Best Debut Indie Game
- Best RPG
- Best Score and Music
- Best Performance (Jennifer English)
It only lost one jury-voted category: Best Audio Design, which went to Battlefield 6.
The Controversy Surrounding the Sweep
Not everyone was happy. In fact, if you go on ResetEra or Reddit, the salt is real. A lot of fans felt that Hollow Knight: Silksong was "robbed" after waiting literally years for its release. Team Cherry did take home Best Action/Adventure, but for many, it felt like a consolation prize compared to the main stage.
There was also that weird drama with the Indie Game Awards where Expedition 33 was stripped of its titles due to "AI concerns" regarding its art assets. But TGA stayed the course. Geoff Keighley and the board clearly didn't find those concerns valid enough to strip it of its TGA Game of the Year status.
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The Player's Voice Factor
It’s worth noting that the "Player's Voice" award—the one that's 100% fan-voted—did not go to Expedition 33. That went to Wuthering Waves.
This highlights a recurring tension at the show. The critics and developers on the jury often look for artistic innovation and "prestige" (the Clair Obscur aesthetic), while the massive global player bases of gacha games and long-awaited sequels drive the popular vote.
Beyond the Big Trophy: Other 2025 Highlights
While everyone is talking about the GOTY sweep, a few other things happened that genuinely matter for the industry.
For one, No Man's Sky won Best Ongoing Game. Again. That’s the second time since 2020. Hello Games is basically the poster child for "not giving up," and seeing them beat out Fortnite and Final Fantasy XIV in 2025 shows that players still value redemption stories.
Then there’s Grand Theft Auto VI. It won Most Anticipated Game for the second year in a row. It’s essentially the "Elden Ring" of anticipation. At this point, the award should just be named after Rockstar.
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The Nintendo Power
Nintendo had a solid night, even if they didn't take the top spot. Donkey Kong Bananza won Best Family Game, and Mario Kart World (the one everyone was waiting for to finally move past 8 Deluxe) took Best Sports/Racing. They’ve now hit 24 total wins at The Game Awards over the years.
What This Means for You as a Gamer
So, what do you actually do with all this? If you haven't played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 yet, you're missing out on the game that just defined the "new era" of RPGs. It’s on Game Pass, so there’s really no excuse not to at least try it.
If you’re a fan of Hollow Knight, don’t be too discouraged by the GOTY loss. Silksong winning Best Action/Adventure is a massive nod to Team Cherry’s polish and design. It’s a reminder that "Best" is subjective, even when there's a gold statue involved.
Actionable Steps to Catch Up on TGA 2025:
- Play the Winner: Check out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or PC. If you like Final Fantasy but want something that feels like a modern prestige HBO drama, this is it.
- Watch the Reveals: Go back and watch the trailers for Control: Resonant and Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic. These were the "world premieres" that actually had some meat on their bones.
- Try the Indies: Don't ignore Blue Prince or The Midnight Walk. These games didn't win the big one, but they were the ones the devs were all whispering about in the lobby.
- Follow the "Labor of Love": Keep an eye on the Baldur's Gate 3 updates. Even in 2025, Larian won Best Community Support. They’re still adding things to a game that's two years old.
The 2025 awards felt like a turning point. We moved away from the dominance of the "sequel-itis" and saw a brand-new IP from a relatively unknown studio take everything. Whether you love the "prestige" turn-based combat or hate it, Expedition 33 is now the benchmark for what a debut can achieve.
Keep an eye on the sales numbers over the next few months. Usually, a TGA Game of the Year win leads to a massive 200-300% spike in players. If you want to be part of the conversation, now is the time to jump in before the DLC rumors start flying in the spring.