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

The critically acclaimed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues to dominate the conversation heading into awards season, earning high praise from some of the industry’s most influential figures. Both Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi have called it their Game of the Year pick for 2025, further cementing its status as one of the standout titles of the year.

Following in the footsteps of Baldur’s Gate 3, which swept awards in 2023, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already received multiple nominations at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025, with winners set to be announced next week. The debut title from Sandfall Interactive has captivated players and critics alike with its deep storytelling, artistic direction, and innovative take on turn-based combat.

In an interview with Famitsu, Phil Spencer listed several of his favorite titles from the year but singled out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as his top choice.

“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.”

While Clair Obscur is not exclusive to Xbox platforms, it launched day one on Game Pass, making it accessible to a wide audience of PC and console players. Spencer’s praise could be seen as slightly partial, but the enthusiasm surrounding the game extends far beyond Microsoft’s ecosystem.

In a separate GamesRadar interview, Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, also named Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 his personal Game of the Year pick, praising its ability to balance every aspect of game design with exceptional craftsmanship.

“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.”

Hamaguchi’s comments have reignited discussions around the future of turn-based combat in high-budget RPGs. His acknowledgment of Clair Obscur’s success contrasts sharply with statements made by Final Fantasy XVI Producer Naoki Yoshida, who previously argued that turn-based systems did not pair well with realistic graphics. Fans of the genre now hope Square Enix may reconsider this stance after seeing how Clair Obscur successfully merges visual realism with strategic gameplay depth.

Beyond the gaming sphere, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues to expand its influence. Reports suggest that one of Hollywood’s top actors has expressed interest in joining a film adaptation currently in early discussions, further evidence of the game’s widespread cultural impact.

With strong Game of the Year momentum, glowing reviews, and industry-wide respect, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks set to define the 2025 awards season and solidify its place among the modern RPG greats.

Do you think Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 deserves to win Game of the Year, or will another title rise to challenge it? Share your thoughts below.