Many gamers feel Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award at The Game Awards 2025. We break down five reasons, honest flaws, and why this RPG truly mattered.
The Game Awards 2025 was not just another flashy celebration of trailers, celebrities, and big publishers. This year, it actually felt meaningful. For once, the biggest honor in gaming did not go to the loudest release or the most expensive project. When the dust settled, one title stood above the rest and proved that vision still matters more than scale. That game was Clair Obscur Expedition 33. The moment Expedition 33 won Game of the Year, many players felt something rare in modern gaming. Validation. Not just for the game, but for the idea that art, storytelling, and music can still win without a massive budget. From every angle, both players and critics feel Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award. Along with that, it broke records by grabbing a total of nine other awards!
Released by debut studio Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur Expedition 33 entered a year crowded with sequels, remakes, and safe bets. Yet it did not try to compete by copying trends. Instead, it trusted its identity. That confidence is exactly why Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award, even when placed against far bigger competitors. Let us see why the game deserved the GOTY award!
1. A Complete Artistic Vision From Start to Finish
One of the biggest reasons Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award is how unified its artistic vision feels. Everything works together. The painterly visuals, the melancholic tone, the lighting, the music, and the narrative themes all point in the same direction. This is not a game that throws features at you hoping something sticks. It knows exactly what it wants to be.
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 does not chase hyper realism, and that choice ages beautifully. The world feels timeless rather than technologically impressive. In a year filled with technically advanced but emotionally hollow releases, this game stood out by looking and feeling intentional. Among the best fantasy RPGs of 2025, none had this level of stylistic confidence.
That said, the commitment to atmosphere sometimes comes at the cost of clarity. Certain environments can feel visually overwhelming, especially when navigation cues are subtle. Still, these moments are rare and never enough to break immersion.
2. Storytelling That Takes Risks and Respects the Player
Another major reason Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award lies in its narrative ambition. The story does not spoon feed answers from the beginning. It retains its mystery. It asks players to think, to reflect, and sometimes to sit with discomfort. The concept of the Gommage alone is one of the most haunting concepts we have seen in gaming.
What makes the storytelling special is not just the premise, but the courage to commit to it. The game takes real risks, especially in its later acts. Some players may initially resist its twists, and that is fair. Even as a fan, it is impossible to deny that Act III can feel confusing and strange on first exposure. But the more you think about it, the more it lingers.
Very few games released this year dared to challenge players emotionally the way this one did. That is why Clair Obscur Expedition 33 stands tall among the best fantasy RPGs of 2025, not just as entertainment but as storytelling.
3. Reinventing Turn Based Combat Without Losing Depth
Combat innovation is another area where Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award. Turn based systems are often dismissed as outdated, yet this game completely rewrote that narrative. By blending real time dodges, parries, and aiming into a turn based structure, it created something genuinely fresh.
Fights feel tense, skill based, and mentally engaging. You are not just managing stats. You are learning patterns, reacting under pressure, and improving through mastery. Even players who usually avoid turn based RPGs found themselves hooked.
Of course, the system is not perfect. Some boss encounters spike difficulty sharply, and timing windows can feel unforgiving, especially early on. But those frustrations come from ambition, not poor design. The combat system is one of the boldest experiments in modern RPGs, and it paid off. That alone helps explain why Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award.
4. Proof That Budget Does Not Define Impact
In an industry obsessed with budgets and marketing spend, Clair Obscur Expedition 33 feels almost rebellious. Developed by a team of around 30 people, it delivered a more memorable experience than many titles created by thousands. This is one of the clearest reasons Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award.
The game proves that focus beats excess. Every system exists for a reason. There is very little filler, even when the game stumbles in exploration or side content pacing. Some side areas do feel repetitive, and the lack of navigational tools can frustrate players who prefer structure. But even these issues never feel careless.
Among the best fantasy RPGs of 2025, no other title better demonstrated how creativity and discipline can outperform raw spending. Sandfall Interactive did not just make a great game. They made a statement.
5. Characters That Feel Human, Not Designed by Committee
The final reason Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award is its cast. The characters feel written, not manufactured. Each member of the expedition has a purpose, a personality, and add their own emotional weight. Conversations matter. Relationships evolve naturally.
The handling of female characters deserves special mention. They are strong, flawed, and memorable without feeling forced or preachy. This balance is rare, and it adds authenticity to the world of Clair Obscur Expedition 33. By the end, these characters stay with you, even after the credits roll.
Not every arc lands perfectly, and some players may wish for deeper exploration of certain side characters. But the emotional core remains powerful, which is why Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award despite minor shortcomings.
Why the Flaws Did Not Matter in the End
It is important to be honest. Navigation can be frustrating at times. Difficulty spikes can feel harsh even on easiest levels. Some design choices will divide players. But Game of the Year is not about perfection. It is about impact.
When everything was considered, Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award absolutely because it dared to be different and succeeded. It respected its audience, trusted its vision, and delivered something that felt complete.
Final Thoughts
In a year dominated by sequels and safe releases, Clair Obscur Expedition 33 reminded everyone why people fall in love with games in the first place. Emotion. Atmosphere. Meaning. That is why Expedition 33 deserved the GOTY Award, and why its victory felt earned rather than surprising.
Years from now, when people look back at the best fantasy RPGs of 2025, this game will not just be remembered as a winner. It will be remembered as a turning point…..
You can read our review of Expedition 33 here. You may also check our list of RPG games similar to Expedition 33.
You can also read our article on video game DLCs better than the base game.
