The annual Game Awards ceremony, referred to as both the 2024 and 2025 event across reports, saw Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 receive the most awards, including Game of the Year. The event, hosted by Geoff Keighley, featured award presentations alongside previews of upcoming titles and discussions regarding industry trends and challenges. While Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 accumulated nine wins, some award categories presented conflicting winners across different reports.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Leads Award Recipients
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a role-playing game developed by independent French studio Sandfall Interactive, received nine awards, including the top accolade of Game of the Year. This makes it the most awarded game in the history of The Game Awards, exceeding the previous record held by The Last of Us: Part 2. The studio, formed by former Ubisoft employees, saw its director, Guillaume Broche, deliver an acceptance speech.
The game is described as drawing inspiration from turn-based role-playing games and features a narrative set in a world where a supernatural entity, The Paintress, limits the population's age, with adventurers seeking its destruction. Its visibility was reportedly enhanced by word-of-mouth and its availability on the Xbox Game Pass service.
Awards received by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 include:
- Game of the Year
- Best Game Direction
- Best Narrative
- Best Art Direction
- Best Score and Music (for composer Lorien Testard, whose debut project was discovered via SoundCloud)
- Best Performance (for actress Jennifer English in her role as Maelle; English dedicated her award to neurodivergent individuals. Co-stars Charlie Cox and Ben Starr were also nominated.)
- Best Role-Playing Game
- Best Independent Game (won during the pre-show)
- Best Debut Indie Game
Discrepancies in Award Reporting
Reports provided conflicting winners for several categories. For Best Audio Design, one source indicated Battlefield 6 as the winner, while other sources listed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Similarly, for Best Multiplayer, winners were reported as Arc Raiders, Elden Ring Nightreign, and Peak across different accounts. Other categories with differing outcomes included Innovation in Accessibility, Games for Impact, Best VR/AR, and Best Sim/Strategy.
Other Key Award Recipients
Beyond Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, other titles and individuals were recognized:
- Donkey Kong Bananza received Best Family Game.
- Mario Kart World won Best Sports/Racing Game. Both titles were noted as Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives.
- Grand Theft Auto VI was named Most Anticipated Game for the second consecutive year.
- Wuthering Waves, a Chinese mobile game, received the fan-voted Players' Voice award.
- Helldivers 2 received Best Ongoing.
- Baldur's Gate 3 won Best Community Support.
- Doom: The Dark Ages was awarded Best Action.
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle won Best Action/Adventure.
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves received Best Fighting.
- The Last of Us: Season 2 won Best Adaptation.
- Kai Cenat was recognized as Content Creator of the Year.
- Valorant was named Best Esports Game.
- MenaRD (Saul Leonardo) was awarded Best Esports Athlete.
- Team Vitality received Best Esports Team.
Event Highlights and Industry Context
The awards ceremony served as a platform for new game announcements and previews. These included two new Tomb Raider games, a sequel titled Control Resonant, and a new Star Wars role-playing game. Larian Studios, developers of Baldur's Gate 3, revealed a new Divinity RPG. Additional footage was shown for Resident Evil 9, confirming the appearance of Leon Kennedy, and the PS5 title Saros. The cast of a new Street Fighter movie adaptation introduced its first trailer.
The Game Awards' structure integrates award presentations with trailer showcases. The 2024/2025 ceremony addressed some previous criticisms regarding the prioritization of advertising over award speeches. However, developers have continued to advocate for the event to acknowledge broader industry challenges, such as recent job losses.
The Future Class scheme, an initiative established in 2020 to recognize "rising stars" in video games, was not continued in 2024. This followed an open letter from former members in 2023 that urged the awards to address the Israel-Gaza conflict. Alumni of the scheme subsequently described it as tokenistic and insufficient in facilitating professional connections. In 2023, Amir Satvat received a "game changer" award for assisting laid-off developers in finding employment. Organizers of The Game Awards have been approached for comment regarding these criticisms.
The event reflected two observed trends within the gaming industry: the increasing prominence of independent studios, with half of the Game of the Year nominees being independent titles, and the expanding international scope of the awards. The voting system incorporates input from over 150 international media outlets, which account for 90% of the total score, complemented by a public online voting system contributing 10%. U.S.-based outlets constitute approximately 15% of the voting jury.
Full List of Nominees and Winners
(Winners are indicated in bold. Where discrepancies in winners were reported, these are noted.)
Game of the Year
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver)
Best Game Direction
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA)
Best Narrative
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver)
- Silent Hill f (NeoBards Entertainment/KONAMI)
Best Art Direction
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
Best Score and Music
- Christopher Larkin, Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Lorien Testard, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Darren Korb, Hades II
- Toma Otowa, Ghost of Yōtei
- Woodkid and Ludvig Forssell, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Best Audio Design
- Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios/EA) (Reported winner by one source)
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive) (Reported winner by multiple sources)
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Silent Hill f (NeoBards Entertainment/KONAMI)
Best Performance
- Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Charlie Cox, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Erika Ishii, Ghost of Yōtei
- Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Konatsu Kato, Silent Hill f
- Troy Baker, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Innovation in Accessibility
- Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ubisoft)
- Atomfall (Rebellion)
- Doom: The Dark Ages (id Software/Bethesda Softworks) (Reported winner by one source)
- EA Sports FC 26 (EA Canada/EA Romania/EA)
- South of Midnight (Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios) (Reported winner by multiple sources)
Games for Impact
- Consume Me (Jenny Jiao Hsia/AP Thomson/Hexacutable) (Reported winner by one source)
- Despelote (Julián Cordero/Sebastián Valbuena/Panic)
- Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Don't Nod Montreal/Don't Nod)
- South of Midnight (Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios) (Reported winner by multiple sources)
- Wanderstop (Ivy Road/Annapurna Interactive)
Best Ongoing
- Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
- Fortnite (Epic Games)
- Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Marvel Rivals (NetEase Games)
- No Man's Sky (Hello Games)
Best Community Support
- Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
- Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
- Fortnite (Epic Games)
- Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- No Man's Sky (Hello Games)
Best Independent Game
- Absolum (Guard Crush Games/Supamonks/Dotemu)
- Ball x Pit (Kenny Sun/Devolver Digital)
- Blue Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury)
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
Best Debut Indie Game
- Blue Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury)
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
- Despelote (Julián Cordero/Sebastián Valbuena/Panic)
- Dispatch (AdHoc Studio)
- Megabonk (Vedinad)
Best Mobile Game
- Destiny: Rising (NetEase Games)
- Persona 5: The Phantom X (Black Wings Game Studio/Sega)
- Sonic Rumble (Rovio Entertainment/Sega)
- Umamusume: Pretty Derby (Cygames Inc.)
- Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games)
Best VR/AR
- Alien: Rogue Incursion (Survios)
- Arken Age (VitruviusVR) (Reported winner by one source)
- Ghost Town (Fireproof Games)
- Marvel's Deadpool VR (Twisted Pixel Games/Oculus Studios) (Reported winner by one source)
- The Midnight Walk (MoonHood/Fast Travel Games)
Best Action
- Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios/EA)
- Doom: The Dark Ages (id Software/Bethesda Softworks)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Ninja Gaiden 4 (Platinum Games/Team Ninja/Xbox Game Studios)
- Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Lizardcube/Sega)
Best Action/Adventure
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (MachineGames/Bethesda Softworks)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
- Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA)
Best RPG
- Avowed (Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios)
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep SIlver)
- The Outer Worlds 2 (Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios)
- Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom)
Best Fighting
- 2XKO (Riot Games)
- Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (Capcom)
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (SNK Corporation)
- Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection (Digital Eclipse/Atari)
- Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega)
Best Family
- Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
- LEGO Party! (SMG Studio/Fictions)
- LEGO Voyagers (Light Brick Studios/Annapurna Interactive)
- Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Sonic Team/Sega)
- Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA)
Best Sim/Strategy
- The Alters (11 Bit Studios)
- FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles (Square Enix)
- Jurassic World Evolution 3 (Frontier Developments)
- Sid Meier's Civilization VII (Firaxis Games/2K) (Reported winner by one source)
- Tempest Rising (Slipgate Ironworks/3D Realms) (Reported winner by one source)
- Two Point Museum (Two Point Studios/Sega)
Best Sports/Racing
- EA Sports FC 26 (EA Canada/EA Romania/EA)
- F1 25 (Codemasters/EA)
- Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
- Rematch (Sloclap/Kepler Interactive)
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Sonic Team/Sega)
Best Multiplayer
- Arc Raiders (Embark Studios) (Reported winner by one source)
- Battlefield 6 (Electronic Arts)
- Elden Ring Nightreign (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco Entertainment) (Reported winner by one source)
- Peak (Aggro Crab/Landfall) (Reported winner by one source)
- Split Fiction (Hazelight/EA)
Best Adaptation
- A Minecraft Movie (Legendary Pictures/Mojang/Warner Bros)
- Devil May Cry (Studio Mir/Capcom/Netflix)
- The Last of Us: Season 2 (HBO/PlayStation Productions)
- Splinter Cell: Deathwatch (FOST Studio/Ubisoft/Netflix)
- Until Dawn (Screen Gems/PlayStation Productions)
Most Anticipated Game
- 007 First Light (IO Interactive)
- Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games)
- Marvel's Wolverine (Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Resident Evil Requiem (Capcom)
- The Witcher IV (CD Projekt Red)
Content Creator of the Year
- Caedrel
- Kai Cenat
- MoistCr1TiKaL
- Sakura Miko
- The Burnt Peanut
Best Esports Game
- Counter-Strike 2 (Valve)
- DOTA 2 (Valve)
- League of Legends (Riot)
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Moonton)
- Valorant (Riot)
Best Esports Athlete
- brawk - Brock Somerhalder (Valorant)
- Chovy - Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends)
- f0rsakeN - Jason Susanto (Valorant)
- Kakeru - Kakeru Watanabe (Street Fighter)
- MenaRD - Saul Leonardo (Street Fighter)
- Zyw0o - Mathieu Herbaut (Counter-Strike 2)
Best Esports Team
- Gen.G - League of Legends
- NRG - Valorant
- Team Falcons - DOTA 2
- Team Liquid PH - Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Team Vitality (Counter-Strike 2)
Players' Voice
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
- Dispatch (AdHoc Studio)
- Genshin Impact (HoYoverse)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
- Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games)