The action RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by the French company Sandfall Interactive, has been dominating the gaming scene in 2025. Since its release, the title has accumulated praise from critics and the public, achieving one of the highest scores in Metacritic history: 9.8 for the PC version, with more than 2,000 user reviews.
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Performance also remains strong on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, solidifying the game's strength across all platforms. The impressive reception has put the game at the top of the race for Game of the Year (GOTY) and outshining competing releases.
Historical note and immediate impact on platforms
The score recorded by Expedition 33 surpasses that of acclaimed classics such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (9.0), The Last of Us (9.2), Half-Life 2 (9.1) and even Baldur's Gate 3 (9.2), winner of the GOTY in 2023. The game's average score on Metacritic, based on thousands of reviews, shows a very rare acceptance among players.
On OpenCritic, another relevant aggregator, the average rating of 92 after 122 reviews reinforces the French title's favoritism. On the last weekend of April, the game peaked at 145,000 concurrent players on Steam, according to SteamDB data. This performance surpassed that of other big-budget games like Assassin's Creed Shadows and Avowed, highlighting Expedition 33's impact on the public.
French studio surprises with debut game
Sandfall Interactive, founded just a few years ago, surprised the industry with an ambitious, well-executed, and technically refined debut project. The game's performance attracted attention even outside the industry. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, mentioned the studio in a recent speech, praising national production.
However, the title doesn't just impress with its high-quality graphics and refined combat mechanics. Its distinguishing feature lies in its bold aesthetic and storytelling, immersing the player in a universe filled with symbolism and impactful choices. The worldbuilding and characters have also received consistent praise, creating a rich and memorable experience for fans of the genre.
Solid campaign and numbers that support favoritism
Since its release, the game has sold over 1 million copies. The combination of technical quality, strong sales performance, and critical acclaim provides a solid foundation for Expedition 33 to be considered a top contender for the GOTY.
The title's awards campaign is expected to include events such as The Game Awards, BAFTA Games Awards, DICE Awards, and Golden Joystick. None of the last five GOTY winners have achieved such a high rating among gamers. Baldur's Gate 3 and Astro Bot, winners in 2023 and 2024, respectively, averaged 9.2 on Metacritic, a score that currently seems modest compared to Expedition 33's 9.8.
New releases scheduled for this year, such as Doom: The Dark Ages, Ghost of Yotei, and Death Stranding 2, could still change the course of the competition and challenge the leading role achieved by Expedition 33.
Another name that's been floated is the roguelike Blue Prince, the second best-rated game of the year, but with an average of 8.2 among users, well below Sandfall's performance.
Game of the Year seems like a matter of time, but the year isn't over yet.
With the delay of Grand Theft Auto VI, 2025's biggest hit, the field is wide open for Expedition 33 to shine even brighter. The absence of a heavyweight like GTA boosts the French RPG's chances. The campaign until the end of the year may still bring surprises, but Sandfall Interactive's game has already made its mark in the industry's recent history.
If it continues with the same performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has the potential to win the title of best of the year and establish its name among the great action RPGs of the decade.
Favoritism consolidated, it remains to maintain performance
Although the season still holds surprises, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands out as the most consistent title so far and a benchmark for the other competitors. International recognition, historical ratings, and the engagement of the gaming community support its favoritism.
The challenge now is to maintain relevance in the face of new competition and ensure that the initial impact doesn't fade before awards season. Until then, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 remains at the top, with the eyes of the gaming world on it.
