5 reasons why Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can be GOTY 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has pleasantly been one of the most surprising hits of 2025. The visually striking JRPG was French developer Sandfall Interactive's debut project in a niche sub-genre. Releasing alongside heavy hitters like Oblivion Remastered, as well as future big launches on the 2025 horizon, things looked tough for it at first.

However, the title's all-round excellence has shown that it is no mere newbie and is, in fact, here to dazzle gamers with an alluring showcase that will remain with them for a while. Here are five reasons we think Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is on its way to earn GOTY 2025 at the Game Awards.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's opinons.

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5 reasons why Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has the potential to win GOTY 2025

1) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 boasts a unique premise and narrative

Every screenshot is jaw-droppingly beautiful (Image via Kepler Interactive)

With a clear Belle Epoque tone in every fabric of its being, this is arguably one of the most visually unique games the market has seen in a long time. Set in an alternate fantasy reality inspired by French society and culture, the title is about taking down a supernatural entity known as the Paintress, who causes people of the same age as the number on her monolith to wither away and die.

Considering the dream-like aesthetics of the world to the eerie, ethereal atmosphere of various explorable dungeons and maps, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's presentation is very theatrical. This is augmented by the appealing cinematography and excellent voicework by blockbuster-grade voice actors. We have no doubt the title will win awards for Best Art Direction on top of being a potential Game of the Year candidate.

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2) The cinematic visuals are stellar, and the soundtrack does not miss

Speaking of the presentation, the Unreal Engine 5-powered visuals are a stunner in each frame. On top of the well-acted voice work, motion capture, and set pieces, the cinematic cutscenes also showcase a flourish only seen in movies, further immersing the player.

They are accompanied by a soundtrack that oozes perfection, with its somber and energetic tones during appropriate moments like emotional scenes and bombastic boss fights. Even if Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 fails to win GOTY, it will be surprising if the title misses out on the Best Soundtrack award at this year's Game Awards showcase.

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3) It carves out its own identity despite obvious JRPG inspirations

The combat is strategic yet exhilarating (Image via Kepler Interactive)

While the aesthetics deserve a standing ovation, the gameplay in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is no slouch either. Inspired by older classics like Final Fantasy, as well as modern ones such as Persona 5, the combat is a unique blend of turn-based and real-time action.

Similar to the Paper Mario titles, players will enter real-time QTEs to boost skills and attacks while manually evading and countering incoming attacks. The difficulty challenge, with the dodge and parry mechanics, has also drawn comparisons to Japanese developer FromSoftware's Dark Souls and Sekiro games. This makes it stand out not only among JRPGs, but in the RPG genre as a whole.

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4) The ambitious project was helmed by a studio of about 30 people

When Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was officially revealed last year (2024), many intrigued gamers were worried that they might not get what they'd seen. As previously mentioned, this title was France-based studio Sandfall Interactive's first project and an ambitious one at that, with mind-blowing presentation and tight gameplay.

Complicating things further, the core team consisted of about 30 people, so players had some reason to worry that the game might not be as good as they hoped. Impressively, though, Sandfall blew past their expectations with flying colors. The final product played well and looked great, which is commendable in an age where "games" like The Day Before exist.

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5) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 raises the bar for modern RPGs

Future indie RPGs will no doubt be compared to Clair Obscur (Image via Kepler Interactive)

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the game has raised the bar for current-gen RPGs in every aspect. This is especially impressive because the project was built by a 30-man team and excels in every factor, from audio-visual elements to gameplay. It checks all the boxes for a solid single-player experience without burdening the gamer with an unnecessary grind.

With no microtransactions or penny-pinching tactics in sight, the title deals a stiff smack to money-hungry investors who are always chasing the latest industry trends and profits. In short, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a true love letter to gaming, which makes it a clear and worthy contender for GOTY 2025.

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