The video game ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ developed by the French studio Sandfall Interactive, swept the Game Awards 2025.
‘Clair Obscur’ breaks records at the Los Angeles Game Awards
2025 will be remembered as the year in which Clair Obscur: Expedition 33a post-apocalyptic video game developed by the French studio Sandfall Interactive, broke records at the prestigious Los Angeles Game Awards. The title not only won the most important award, Video Game of the Yearbut also swept a total of 9 awards, including Best Independent Game, Best Artistic Direction and Best Narrative. These achievements mark a milestone for the French industry and underline the impact of this amazing game on the global stage.
The great triumph of Clair Obscur
During the ceremony, held at the Peacock Theater Los Angelesthe game director, Guillaume Broochcould not hide his emotion upon receiving the recognition: “They have changed our lives and that of our studio, and it is really wonderful.” With a small team of around 30 people, Clair Obscur managed to surpass giants in the sector such as Death Stranding 2 and Donkey Kong Bananzatitles that were among the great favorites of the night.
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Developed with a modest budget compared to the big productions in the industry, Clair Obscur has been a revelation, selling more than 5 million copies since its launch in April 2025. Its success has been such that, in just a few months, it has earned a place in the hearts of players around the world, becoming one of the surprise hits of the year.
One of the most notable features of Clair Obscur It is his marked tribute to French culture. From its settings inspired by the Paris of the “Belle Époque”to the music performed mostly in French, the title breathes France through all its pores. Even the additional costumes for the characters, which include a red beret, striped t-shirt, and a bread baguette, are a nod to Gallic cultural identity.
This cultural element, combined with its deep narrative and impressive graphics, has made the title considered one of the most complete video games of the year.
Categories awarded at the Game Awards 2025
The video game, which was nominated in a record number of categories, clearly won in several of them, winning the following awards:
- Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Narrative: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Artistic Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Soundtrack and Music: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (composition by Lorien Testard)
- Best Sound Design: Battlefield 6 (also nominated Clair Obscur)
Besides, Clair Obscur faced other great titles such as Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong and the expected Death Stranding 2 by Hideo Kojima, and still managed to stand out with its unique proposal.
Why has ‘Clair Obscur’ been a phenomenon?
Despite being a relatively new game, Clair Obscur has managed to captivate players with its intense atmosphere, immersive narrative and striking visuals. The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, where players must face various challenges in a devastated environment. Narrative decisions play a crucial role, offering players a personalized and deeply emotional experience.
In its short existence, the game has been a phenomenon that has managed to connect with a wide audience, both on PC and console platforms, and now its success in the Game Awards It only reinforces its status as one of the big surprises of 2025.
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The French study Sandfall Interactivewhich became known with this first production, is in an enviable position after this success. The 9 awards obtained in the Game Awards They open new doors for the team, which is now preparing to release future expansions of the game and explore new projects.
With such impressive work on his first video game, the future of Sandfall Interactive promises to continue surprising the video game industry.
