The Game Awards 2025 concluded on Thursday evening at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with one of the most competitive line-ups in recent memory and ultimately the crowning Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 as Game of the Year. The win capped an evening marked by surprise announcements, standout performances and a slate of nominations reflecting the industry’s most ambitious releases. In a year marked by blockbuster sequels and groundbreaking indie debuts, Expedition 33 entered the evening as favorite and left with the biggest triumph yet.
Throughout the autumn, Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 dominated the conversations around the most influential games of the year. It topped critics’ lists, led public polls and fueled debates on social media, making GOTY’s victory increasingly inevitable as the ceremony neared.
Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 wins the top prize at The Game Awards 2025
‘CLAIR OBSCUR – EXPEDITION 33’ has been named Game of the Year #TheGameAwards pic.twitter.com/2z7kaO0YIb
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) December 12, 2025
Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 was officially announced as Game of the Year 2025 during the closing moments of the ceremony, earning a standing ovation from those in attendance. The win puts Sandfall Interactive in the spotlight after the studio led the evening with a record thirteen nominations, a feat that underlines the game’s broad impact across the story, design, music and performance categories.
The field was fierce: Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, And Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 all entered the night as strong contenders. Yet Expedition 33 ultimately achieved the title that defines the industry’s standard of excellence for 2025.
A breakthrough year for Sandfall Interactive
Game director Guillaume Brooch accepted the award with a speech that quickly attracted attention for its sincerity and unexpected recognitions. He thanked the development team, publisher Kepler Interactive and the cast, but also took a moment to recognize the creators of YouTube tutorials and mentioned them “the unsung heroes of this industry” for helping the studio learn essential development techniques early on.
Brooch also offered heartfelt thanks Hironobu Sakaguchilegendary creator of Final fantasy And Chrono triggerwhere he is seen as a fundamental source of inspiration Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33. The mention resonated deeply with fans of classic turn-based RPGs, who have long drawn comparisons between Sakaguchi’s influence and Expedition 33’s atmospheric, painterly style.
An extensive list of wins in addition to Game of the Year 2025
‘CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33’ has won a record number of 9 awards #TheGameAwards
▪️Game of the Year
▪️ Best game direction
▪️ Best art direction
▪️ Best story
▪️ Best performance
▪️ Best score and music
▪️ Best Debut Indie Game
▪️Best roleplaying game
▪️Best independent game pic.twitter.com/FFvvVcBnQ2— ScreenTime (@screentime) December 12, 2025
Although the GOTY title was the highlight, Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 won several additional categories, making it one of the most decorated games in The Game Awards history. The wins include:
- Best independent game
- Best Art Direction
- Best Debut Indie Game
- Best score and music
- Best RPG
- Best story
- Best game direction
- Best performance (Jennifer English)
This sweeping recognition follows its previous performance at the Golden Joystick Awards, where it earned seven accolades and emerged as the frontrunner for the 2025 Game of the Year. Across multiple awards circuits, the game has cemented its place not only as an indie success, but also as a genre-defining work.
A strong field of competition during the ceremony
Hades II wins Best Action Game #TheGameAwards pic.twitter.com/ZpyHVMZcJb
— IGN (@IGN) December 12, 2025
The 2025 edition of The Game Awards featured a diverse selection of standout titles across multiple categories. Hades II claimed as best action game, Hollow Knight: Silk Song secured for the best action adventure, and Donkey Kong Bananza deserved Best Family Game. Oversized winners included Battlefield 6 for the best audio design, South of midnight for Games for Impact, and Grand Theft Auto VI for the most awaited game.
Despite a wide presentation of awards, the evening’s momentum consistently returned to Clair unclear: Expedition 33underscoring its status as the defining title of the year.
Complete list of big winners
- Best family game – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Accessibility Innovation – Doom: The Dark Ages
- Best Esports Game – Counter-Strike 2
- Best Esports Athlete – Chovy
- Best Esports Team – Team Vitality
- Best Mobile Game – Umamusume: Pretty Derby
- Best Independent Game – Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33
- Best Editing – The Last of Us: Season 2
- Best Action Game – Hades II
- Best Performance – Jennifer English (Expedition 33)
- Games for Impact – South of Midnight
- Best Running Game – No Man’s Sky
- Best Audio Design – Battlefield 6
- Content Creator of the Year – MoistCr1TiKaL
- Best Fighting Game – Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
- Most Anticipated – Game Grand Theft Auto VI
- Game Changer Award – Girls make games
- Best Action-Adventure – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Art Direction – Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33
- Best Sim/Strategy Game – Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
- Best Debut Indie Game – Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33
- Best Score and Music – Expedition 33
- Best Sports/Racing Game – Mario Kart World
- Best Community Support – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best VR/AR game – The Midnight Walk
- Best RPG – Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33
- Player Voice – Raging waves
- Best Story – Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33
- Best Multiplayer – Arc Raiders
- Best game direction – Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33
- Game of the Year – Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33
Free post-awards update released for players
“If you remember we promised some content a few months ago… it’s coming out now, you can go home and play it, it’s free”
Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 after winning GOTY at the Game Awards pic.twitter.com/oYWuUzwPTr
— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) December 12, 2025
To celebrate the victory, Sandfall Interactive has announced a free update for Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33available immediately after the ceremony. The patch includes new weapons, quests, improvements and additional content, delivering on the promises made in previous interviews. The update was received with widespread enthusiasm, with players praising the studio’s commitment to its community.
A landmark moment for modern RPG development
With worldwide sales in the millions, a record number of nominations and an awards season culminating in the 2025 Game of the Year, Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 is now among the rare titles that redefine expectations for story-driven RPGs. For Sandfall Interactive, this moment marks the studio’s arrival as a major creative force. And for the gaming industry, it heralds a future that is increasingly shaped by independent teams willing to push artistic boundaries.
Featured image: @famitsu/X
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