Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominates the Game Awards 2025 nominations, earning a record-setting 12 nods, the most any game has ever received in the awards’ history. The title is up for Game of the Year, along with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Sony leads as publisher with 19 nominations, and fans can now vote via the official Game Awards site.
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Game Awards 2025 Nominations: Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Breaks Records
The Game Awards 2025 nominations have officially been revealed, and making headlines is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The game picked up an astonishing 12 nominations, setting a new all-time record for the most nods in the history of The Game Awards.
Historic Lead for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Developed by Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has made waves not just for its critical acclaim, but now for its awards performance: 12 nominations across 10 distinct categories. According to GamesRadar+, those categories include Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, Best Performance, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and Best Role-Playing Game.
In the performance category, Expedition 33 shines even more: Ben Starr, Jennifer English, and Charlie Cox all received acting nominations.
Who Else Is Up for Game of the Year
The Game of the Year 2025 race is a tight one. Joining Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are five very strong contenders:
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions / Sony)
- Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD / Nintendo)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios / Deep Silver)
That’s a stacked lineup: from massive AAA to beloved indie, the GOTY nominees reflect a diverse and competitive year in gaming.
Big Names, Big Publishers
Beyond individual games, Sony Interactive Entertainment is having a big year: the publisher leads all others, racking up 19 nominations across its titles. Hot on its heels is Kepler Interactive, with 13 nominations, while Microsoft and Electronic Arts both earned 10.
The nominees were selected by a global jury of more than 150 media publications and creator outlets, reflecting broad industry input.
Fan Voting and the Show
Fans can cast their votes now through The Game Awards website, with voting open until December 10 at 6 p.m. PT. The final winners will be announced during the awards show on December 11, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Notably, the voting process for The Game Awards blends jury input (90%) with fan votes (10%) to determine winners.
What This Means for the Industry
The dominance of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in nominations is more than just a numbers game — it signals the growing power and influence of well-crafted indie games in a traditionally AAA-dominated awards scene. The fact that an indie title can sweep so many categories suggests that the gaming community and press are seriously recognizing creative, narrative-driven games.
At the same time, Sony’s strong showing reaffirms its continued dominance in delivering both blockbuster and artistic titles. With 19 nominations, the publisher is clearly delivering in a wide variety of categories.
Key Nomination Table
Here’s a quick overview of the top nominated games:
| Game | Number of Nominations | Notable Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | 12 | Game of the Year, Game Direction, Narrative, Score, Performance, Indie, RPG |
| Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | ~7 | Game of the Year, Game Direction, Art Direction |
| Ghost of Yōtei | ~7 | Game Direction, Narrative, Art Direction |
| Hades II | ~6 | Game of the Year, Direction |
| Hollow Knight: Silksong | ~5 | Game of the Year, Independent Game |
Final Thoughts
The Game Awards 2025 nominations are a watershed moment for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, marking it as a true standout in this year’s awards season. With its record-setting 12 nods, it’s not just leading the pack — it’s rewriting the awards history books.
As December 11 approaches, all eyes will be on which games convert their nominations into wins. Whether you’re rooting for the indie darling or the heavy hitters, it’s shaping up to be a landmark show.
External Links
- Vote for the winners on the official Game Awards website. VGC
- For full list of nominees and categories, see The Gamer’s coverage. thegamer.com
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