‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ stuns industry with record haul of Game Awards nominations

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has emerged arsenic the expected juggernaut of this year’s Game Awards, starring the 2025 nominations with a record-breaking 12 nods. The afloat slate was unveiled Monday during a livestream hosted connected YouTube, mounting the signifier for what organisers are calling the “most competitory twelvemonth successful the show’s history.”

Developed by Montpellier-based Sandfall Interactive, the stylish, turn-based RPG has vaulted from cult curiosity to award-season heavyweight. Its 12 nominations span the ceremony’s astir prestigious categories, including Game of the Year, Best Game Direction and Best Narrative. It besides dominates the show field, with Ben Starr, Charlie Cox and Jennifer English each recognised for their roles successful a uncommon triple showing for a azygous title.

In the pursuit for Game of the Year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 volition look disconnected against an eclectic lineup: Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Nintendo’s platformer Donkey Kong Bananza, indie favourites Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades II, and medieval sequel Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

This twelvemonth marks a displacement for The Game Awards itself. The show, created and hosted by writer Geoff Keighley, volition watercourse connected Prime Video for the archetypal time, alongside its accustomed beingness connected Twitch, YouTube, Steam, X, Facebook and TikTok Live.

Part awards amusement and portion selling showcase, the December 11 ceremonial successful Los Angeles is expected to present its customary blend of philharmonic performances, personage cameos and high-profile reveals. Last year, audiences archetypal saw glimpses of The Witcher IV, Elden Ring Nightreign and Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

Sandfall’s breakout occurrence arrives with a enactment of controversy. Despite being nominated for Best Independent Game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was supported by respective planetary studios and funded successful portion by steadfast Kepler Interactive, which is simply a grey country successful the progressively blurred indie landscape. Still, critics person been enamoured with its painterly aesthetic, turn-based combat and charged performances.

Sony, historically a powerhouse astatine the awards, follows adjacent down the frontrunner with 2 PS5 exclusives — Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yōtei — each earning 8 nominations, with Erika Ishii representing the second successful the show category.

Beyond games, the adaptation contention includes titles specified arsenic A Minecraft Movie, Netflix’s Devil May Cry, HBO’s The Last of Us: Season 2, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch and the fearfulness reimagining Until Dawn.

The afloat database of nominees is disposable connected The Game Awards’ authoritative channels.