By There’s no question that the 2025 unexpected RPG success Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is among the many contenders for Game of the Year in December, yet director Guillaume Broche emphasizes that the esteemed accolade was never the aim for developer Sandfall Interactive.
In a conversation with PCGN, Broche disclosed why Sandfall already perceives Clair Obscur as having surpassed its initial expectations.
“[GOTY] isn’t something we truly strive for; it ought to be merely a result of developing a good game, not the actual objective,” Broche mentioned. “Our approach is that we’ve already accomplished so much more than we intended. We’ve received countless wonderful messages from gamers across the globe expressing how the game has transformed their lives and supported them through challenging periods. There’s an abundance of affection, and we are, in return, profoundly thankful.
“What we aim for while creating games, at least from my perspective, is to evoke genuine emotional connections with individuals. [Expedition 33] was already a victory because we’ve succeeded in this regard, so the award would just be a delightful little extra. That said, there are numerous excellent games this year, so it’s completely acceptable if we don’t win – we’re going to be happy either way.”
Broche is entirely correct in this regard. 2025 has been yet another phenomenal year concerning video game launches, with Clair Obscur vying alongside titles like Donkey Kong Bananza, Split Fiction, Death Stranding 2, Hades 2, Silent Hill f, Ghost of Yotei, Monster Hunter Wilds, and many more. However, Broche’s (somewhat lighthearted) choice for GOTY 2025 isn’t any of those titles… it’s Megabonk.
“Regarding [personal selections], I’m not certain if it’s a serious one, but I’m currently investing far too much time in Megabonk,” Broche remarked, chuckling. “It’s my existence. Help me!”