Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Dominates at the 12th Game Awards
The 12th Game Awards, held on December 12, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, showcased the best in gaming with a night full of excitement, surprises, and star power. Topping the list of winners was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive, which took home the prestigious Game of the Year award along with a total of nine wins out of its record-breaking twelve nominations.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not only clinched the Game of the Year title but also won accolades for Best Independent Game, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, and Best Performance, awarded to Jennifer English for her role as Maelle. This impressive haul highlights the game’s critical acclaim and the impact it has made in the gaming community.
Other notable winners of the evening included Donkey Kong Bananza, which won Best Family Game, and Hades II, which was recognized as Best Action Game. South of Midnight was awarded Games For Impact, while Hollow Knight: Silksong took home the Best Action/Adventure title. HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 was also celebrated, winning the Best Adaptation category.
In addition to the awards, the night was filled with exciting announcements from major studios and indie developers alike. Lucasfilm unveiled Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, developed by Casey Hudson, known for his work on the Mass Effect series. Larian Studios, fresh off the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, teased their next title, Divinity. Day 4 Night Studio introduced Bradley the Badger, a comedy action-adventure featuring Evan Peters, while Capcom confirmed the return of Leon Kennedy in the highly anticipated horror title Resident Evil Requiem.
Amazon Game Studios and Crystal Dynamics also made waves with two new Lara Croft titles. The first, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, is set for a 2026 release and reimagines the 1996 classic, while Tomb Raider Catalyst, scheduled for 2027, promises to take players on a mystical adventure in Northern India. Alix Wilton Regan will voice Lara Croft, stepping in for Camilla Luddington, who voiced the character in the previous series installments.
The star-studded event featured presentations from notable personalities including Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo, and Gemma Chan, who introduced awards and provided teasers for upcoming projects. The evening also included a live performance by Evanescence and orchestral renditions of the year’s top game scores, conducted by BAFTA and Emmy-nominated composer Lorne Balfe.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the Game Awards remain a significant platform for celebrating achievements, fostering innovation, and highlighting the creativity of developers. With Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leading the charge, the 2025 Game Awards have set a high bar for future ceremonies, leaving audiences eager for what the next year will bring.