Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Sets Record with 12 Nominations

The French JRPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has achieved a remarkable milestone by being nominated for a record-breaking 12 awards at The Game Awards. Developer Sandfall Interactive expressed their astonishment at the recognition, highlighting the significance of this achievement in the gaming industry.

According to Geoff Keighley, the host and producer of The Game Awards, the nominations include some of the year’s most acclaimed titles. Among these, two-player co-op adventure Split Fiction received four nominations, while platformer Hollow Knight: Silksong garnered five. The roguelike Hades 2 received six nominations, and sequels Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei each earned seven.

Despite the stiff competition, Expedition 33 has distinguished itself as the most-nominated game in the history of The Game Awards, a testament to its impact and popularity. The game is not only in contention for the coveted Game of the Year award but is also nominated for major categories such as Best Narrative and Best Art Direction. Additionally, it faces a more contentious challenge in the categories of Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game.

The discussion surrounding its classification as an indie title stems from the game’s development, which reportedly involved hundreds of outsourced developers and a substantial budget. This has led some to categorize it as a AA title rather than a traditional indie game. Nevertheless, Sandfall Interactive remains grateful for the recognition, expressing their excitement on Twitter: “What a privilege to be nominated, not only for 2025 GAME OF THE YEAR, but also TWELVE??!! TOTAL NOMINATIONS. There are so many deserving, precious games from this year, and to be nominated among them makes us SO SO very whee. THANK YOU!!”

In a separate note, the composer for franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Journey mentioned that he would “happily trade places” with the RPG that did not secure nominations at the upcoming 2026 Grammys.

As anticipation builds for The Game Awards, the nominations for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have already sparked significant discussion within the gaming community, showcasing the vibrant landscape of this year’s gaming innovations.