This Game Pass game could be the GOTY 2025: nobody expected something so powerful

The best game of 2025 (so far) is available from day one on the Xbox service.

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By mid-2025, everything points to the fact that the top contender for Game of the Year is not a traditional triple-A game or a sequel to a veteran saga, but a new IP launched directly on Xbox Game Pass. We’re talking about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the debut title from Sandfall Interactive that has won over critics and audiences alike.

The game, available from day one on Xbox Game Pass, has made a splash with a proposal that combines decadent fantasy, turn-based combat, and an artistic direction that has left a lasting impression.

The most surprising RPG of 2025 has been on Game Pass since day one

In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, we take on the leadership of a group of rebels marked by destiny. Every year, an immortal painter descends from her tower to eliminate all humans of a certain age, erasing them from the world with a cursed brush. We are the last expedition that will try to break this cycle: a desperate struggle to survive beyond the age of 33.

Visually, the game has been compared to works like Dishonored, BioShock Infinite, or Final Fantasy, but with its own identity and a very original pictorial treatment. The artistic direction has been one of the most valued elements, with scenarios that seem like oil paintings and animations that take advantage of the power of Unreal Engine 5 with Lumen and Nanite.

But it’s not all about looks. Its reactive turn-based combat system has been another major success. The player can interrupt enemy attacks, move to dodge projectiles, or cast spells in real-time, which gives freshness to the genre and brings it closer to players who don’t normally consume JRPGs or turn-based RPGs.

The enemy design, narrative rhythm without unnecessary filler, variety of scenarios, and level of technical polish also stand out, something not so common in new IPs.

Game Pass, the perfect showcase for a different and daring work

The fact that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 arrived on Xbox Game Pass from day one has been key to its impact. Instead of facing the challenge of standing out among traditional releases or million-dollar campaigns, the game found a perfect showcase in the Xbox ecosystem.

Many players have discovered it out of curiosity, tried it without extra cost, and ended up recommending it for its personality, gameplay depth, and visual beauty. On social media, the game accumulates thousands of clips, captures, and daily mentions. The reviews on Metacritic and OpenCritic place it among the best-rated games of the year.

Xbox has bet big on Game Pass as a platform for important releases, and Clair Obscur is the best example that this strategy can serve to give visibility to titles that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

If you haven’t played it yet, now is the time. Not only because it could end up taking the GOTY, but also because it’s a distinct, bold, and carefully crafted experience, just like any big-budget production. And the best part: it’s included in Game Pass at no extra cost.