Another GOTY award for the Xbox Game Pass game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review

The prestigious publication places the work of Sandfall Interactive as the most outstanding title of the year.

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The final stretch towards The Game Awards arrives with an unexpected recognition: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been named Game of the Year 2025 by TIME magazine, one of the most influential publications in the cultural landscape. The award comes just before the Geoff Keighley gala, where the title is also one of the top favorites.

The merit is not only surprising due to this year’s competition, but also because of the project’s origin. The game is developed by a small French team of just thirty people, a detail that TIME has highlighted when evaluating how an independent production has managed to outshine big-budget blockbusters.

TIME Magazine reveals its Top 10 with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leading the way

According to TIME, Sandfall Interactive’s game is “a work created from passion“, capable of appearing without making a noise and ending up becoming one of the most impactful works of 2025. The magazine values the visual style, the project’s direction led by Guillaume Broche, and the team’s cohesion, formed by developers who have been working together for years.

The complete list leaves out some notable absences and confirms the variety that this year has had. Here are the top 10 most important titles of 2025, according to the magazine:

Top 10 TIME Magazine – Best games of 2025

1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

2. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

3. Ghost of Yotei

4. Split Fiction

5. Silent Hill f

6. Hollow Knight: Silksong

7. Lost Records: Bloom and Rage

8. DOOM: The Dark Ages

9. Sonic Racing CrossWorlds

10. Marvel Rivals

It’s striking that titles that were heavily favored for The Game Awards (such as Hades 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Kingdom Come: Deliverance II) did not make it into TIME’s selection. Nevertheless, the choice makes it clear that Expedition 33 has made an impact on international critics and arrives at the December 12th gala at a moment of global recognition.