Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Earns Game of the Year Recognition from Phil Spencer and Naoki Hamaguchi

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Poised for Game of the Year Recognition

The potential for a roleplaying game to dominate the Game of the Year awards once again is promising, especially following the critical acclaim of Baldur’s Gate 3 in 2023. This year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is already generating buzz, having earned multiple nominations at the upcoming Golden Joystick Awards 2025, with the winners set to be revealed shortly.

Industry Heavyweights Praise Clair Obscur

Adding to the game’s momentum, industry veterans such as Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and the renowned director of Final Fantasy VII Remake, Naoki Hamaguchi, have openly endorsed Clair Obscur. Their endorsements are a significant testament to the game’s quality and appeal within the gaming community.

In an interview with Famitsu, Spencer named several standout titles from his gaming experiences in 2025 but singled out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for high praise:

“Excluding our games… I love the game I’m playing now, Hollow Knight: Silksong. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, that’s very good. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound was also good. Also, although it is a game for PlayStation 5 and PC, my friend director Kojima’s Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The Game of the Year is probably Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.”

Though the game is not exclusive to Microsoft platforms, it has been available on the Xbox Game Pass since launch, leading some to speculate about Spencer’s potential bias. Nevertheless, his enthusiasm reflects a broader industry sentiment regarding the game’s noteworthy achievement.

Director Hamaguchi’s Support

Echoing Spencer’s sentiments, Hamaguchi shared his admiration for Clair Obscur in an interview with GamesRadar. He emphasized that the game excels across various dimensions beyond its combat mechanics. He stated:

“It’s a really great game and would deserve Game of the Year. I’d like to see them get that. What makes that game so good is the fact it gets all of the elements in it right, and it balances them all at such a high level of quality. The setting, the world, the characters, and the storyline, those are all really well done as well, in addition to the gameplay. And I think it all comes together, and that’s why it’s such a well-regarded game, why the fans like it so much, why it sold as well as it had.”

Industry Trends and Fan Expectations

The success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has reignited discussions among fans regarding the use of turn-based combat in modern games, especially in light of previous comments from Square Enix. Notably, the producer of Final Fantasy XVI, Naoki Yoshida, previously commented that turn-based systems were incompatible with realistic graphics. Given Clair Obscur’s success, there are renewed hopes among Final Fantasy fans that Square Enix may reconsider its approach in future titles, though no official word has emerged on this front.

Cinematic Adaptation on the Horizon?

In additional news surrounding Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a prominent Hollywood actor has shown an interest in joining the cast of its anticipated film adaptation. While details remain scarce, the involvement of major stars could elevate the project’s profile even further.

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