There's no doubt that the 2025 sleeper RPG will be a hit Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 is one of many contenders for Game of the Year in December, but director Guillaume Broche insists the prestigious award was never developer Sandfall Interactive's goal.
I'm talking to PKGNBrosh explained why Sandfall already feels like Clair Obscur has been more successful than anyone could have hoped for.
“[GOTY] this is not what we really strive for; it should just be a consequence of making a good game, not a goal,” Brosh said. “Our philosophy is that we have already achieved much more than we wanted to. We've received so many wonderful messages from players all over the world saying the game has changed their lives and helped them get through difficult times. There is so much love here and we are so grateful in return.
“We create games, at least on my part, to create a real emotional resonance with people. [Expedition 33] was already a victory because we achieved it, so the reward would be a nice little bonus. Having said that, there are so many good games this year that it’s okay if we don’t get them – that’s completely normal and we’ll be happy anyway.”
The brooch here is absolutely worth the money. 2025 was another record year for video game releases, with Clair Obscur competing against the likes of Donkey Kong Bananza, Split Fiction, Death Stranding 2, Hades 2, Silent Hill f, Ghost of Yotei, Monster Hunter Wilds, the list goes on. But Brosh (half-seriously) chose not one of these games for GOTY 2025… but Megabonk.
“From the point of view [personal picks]I don’t know how serious it is, but I’m spending too much time on Megabonk right now,” Brosh said, laughing. “This is my life. Help me!”
Hey, to each his own.
