The buzz around Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been electric, as this RPG could follow in the footsteps of 2023’s Baldur’s Gate 3 by claiming a slew of Game of the Year awards. With numerous nominations at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025, the game’s achievements are already shining brightly, and the winners will be unveiled just a week from now.
A Resounding Endorsement
This unexpected hit has garnered praise from top industry figures, including Microsoft’s Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. Reports suggest that in an interview with Famitsu, Spencer selected Sandfall Interactive’s debut title as one of his favorite games of 2025.
Excluding our games… I love the game I’m playing now, Hollow Knight: Silksong. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, that’s very good. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound was also good. Also, although it is a game for PlayStation 5 and PC, my friend director Kojima’s Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The Game of the Year is probably Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Though Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t exclusive to Microsoft’s platforms, its inclusion in Game Pass from day one might suggest a slight bias from Spencer. However, he’s not alone in his admiration. Hamaguchi expressed similar sentiments to Gamesradar, emphasizing that the game’s excellence stems from more than its turn-based combat advancements:
It’s a really great game and would deserve Game of the Year. I’d like to see them get that. What makes that game so good is the fact it gets all of the elements in it right, and it balances them all at such a high level of quality. The setting, the world, the characters, and the storyline, those are all really well done as well, in addition to the gameplay. And I think it all comes together, and that’s why it’s such a well-regarded game, why the fans like it so much, why it sold as well as it had.
Impact on the Industry
Following the game’s success, there’s been speculation about whether it might influence Square Enix to rethink their stance on combat styles. Some fans recall the controversy from a few years ago when Final Fantasy XVI Producer Naoki Yoshida noted that turn-based combat didn’t mesh well with realistic graphics. While fans hope for a shift in future Final Fantasy titles, no announcements have been made. Ultimately, it will be up to the producers of upcoming installments to decide the best path forward.
Adding to the excitement, a prominent Hollywood actor has shown interest in joining the film adaptation of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Meanwhile, in other updates, check out an exclusive TGS 2025 interview with Naoki Hamaguchi discussing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and its potential future.
This groundbreaking game is truly one of the year’s best, boasting acclaim from both industry leaders and fans alike.