The gaming industry was abuzz in 2025 with the unexpected rise of “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.” This title took the gaming community by storm, clinching the coveted Game of the Year award at both The Game Awards and the Golden Joysticks, along with accolades from numerous media outlets globally. With its compelling narrative and engaging mechanics, “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” carved out its place as a standout game of the year.
Unprecedented Success and Recognition
Reports suggest that “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” achieved a remarkable feat, securing 291 Game of the Year wins in 2025. This places the game just ahead of “Baldur’s Gate 3,” which earned 288 wins in 2023. The only games surpassing it in recent history are “The Last of Us Part II” with 326 wins and “Elden Ring,” which dominates with an astounding 435 wins in 2022. With 291 Game of the Year victories, “Clair Obscur” stands as one of the most celebrated games of its time.
The Top Contenders in Game of the Year Wins
Here is a look at the top 21 games that have surpassed the 100 Game of the Year wins milestone:
- Elden Ring (FromSoftware) – 435
- The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog) – 326
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive) – 291
- Baldur’s Gate III (Larian Studios) – 288
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (CD Projekt Red) – 281
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo EPD) – 264
- God of War (2018) (Santa Monica Studio) – 263
- The Last of Us (Naughty Dog) – 257
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda) – 229
- Astro Bot (Team Asobi) – 196
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (Naughty Dog) – 190
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar Games) – 178
- Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar Games) – 163
- Dragon Age: Inquisition (BioWare) – 139
- Death Stranding (Kojima Productions) – 118
- God of War Ragnarök (Santa Monica Studio) – 118
- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Naughty Dog) – 115
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo EPD) – 114
- Overwatch (Blizzard Entertainment) – 114
- Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar Games) – 111
- Mass Effect 2 (BioWare) -102
The top five are predominantly single-player, narrative-driven experiences with a strong fantasy RPG element. Notably, “Astro Bot” is the only entry in the top ten that deviates from this formula, featuring a non-fantasy and non-narrative-driven approach. Meanwhile, “Overwatch” remains the sole multiplayer-focused game on the list, highlighting the preference for story-rich, immersive single-player experiences among critics.