By Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s creative helm, Guillaume Broche, expresses that his acclaimed JRPG was never “envisioned to be monumental,” making its remarkable triumph at the Golden Joystick Awards truly astonishing.
In the previous week, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 secured seven accolades at the Golden Joysticks, including the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year accolade. In a discussion with Radio Times Gaming after the event concluded (below), Broche reminisces about the path that Sandfall Interactive’s title has traversed since its debut.
Jennifer English and Ben Starr on Clair Obscur Expedition 33’s MAJOR TRIUMPH at Golden Joysticks – YouTube
Verso performer Ben Starr contributes: “Individuals, I presume, at the conclusion of 2025, might forget that this game is a minor project. It was never meant to be as extensive as it is. It has evolved into this kind of cultural milestone – a phenomenon – but that’s merely because the game is exceedingly genuine, I believe, and a substantial number of people have resonated with that.”
He adds: “I don’t think anyone anticipated this because it’s a small game that’s blossomed into something considerable as those who have engaged with it have truly valued it. Witnessing the buzz was extraordinary. Observing an increasing number of players engaging with it and seeking to play it. No one forecasted those statistics, and we’ve all merely been communicating with one another, thinking, ‘well, this is just ridiculous. This is just silly now. Everyone just halt. It’s a ludicrous jest.’ But indeed, it’s been exceptionally rewarding.”
It appears improbable that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s triumph will decelerate anytime soon. It has also been nominated for 12 accolades across 10 categories at The Game Awards 2025 – which makes it the most nominated game in the event’s history. We’ll simply have to wait and observe how many it genuinely manages to secure next month.