In a historic triumph for the French video game industry, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won the title of Game of the Year at the 2025 Game Awards, becoming the first French game to earn this prestigious distinction. Even better: with nine awards in total, the RPG from Montpellier-based studio Sandfall Interactive breaks all records and delivers a masterclass to the AAA giants of the industry.

As reported by PC Gamer, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won nine trophies at the 2025 Game Awards, surpassing even Baldur’s Gate 3, which had taken “only” six in 2023. The list of awards is impressive: Game of the Year, Best Narrative, Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, Best Performance (Jennifer English) and Best RPG.

A historic record

According to GameSpot, after breaking the record for the most nominations with 13 (a first in the 12-year history of The Game Awards), Expedition 33 has officially become the most awarded game in the history of the ceremony. The previous record belonged to The Last of Us: Part II with seven wins in 2020.

French pride

As highlighted by France Info, this is a historic first for a French title. Guillaume Broche, the game’s creative director, took the stage with his entire team dressed in striped sailor shirts and red berets, a nod to the very French costumes designed for the game’s heroes. “You changed our lives and the life of our studio, and it’s truly wonderful,” he said.

Developed by Montpellier-based studio Sandfall Interactive, the game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world inspired by Belle Époque Paris. Having sold more than five million copies since its release in April 2025, it has become a global phenomenon and one of the surprise hits of the year.

An indie victory over AAA giants

What’s most remarkable about this achievement? Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was developed largely by just about thirty people — a modest team compared to the hundreds of developers involved in AAA productions. For many team members, it is their first game.

“We wanted to make a small game, but with big ambitions,” explained co-founder François Meurisse in his acceptance speech. “It was a daily challenge.” A challenge brilliantly met, proving that with creativity, passion, and talent, an independent studio with limited resources can surpass the industry’s giants.

In their speech for the Best Independent Game award, the studio dedicated their victory “to the indies who put creativity first and move forward with limited resources.” A statement that resonates strongly at a time when AAA game budgets are exploding (sometimes exceeding 200 million dollars) without necessarily guaranteeing quality or innovation.