The Game Awards 2025 delivered its usual blend of celebrity fanfare, award ceremonies, and high-impact world premieres, but the biggest story of the night wasn’t just a win—it was a series of long-anticipated returns and the undeniable rise of a new indie star. From a historic Game of the Year sweep to massive franchise revivals, the show set the stage for the next two years of gaming.
The Historic Victory: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The most defining event of the evening was the historic performance of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The turn-based RPG from Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive, which had already captivated critics and players, swept the show, securing an unprecedented nine wins out of its thirteen nominations.
- Game of the Year: The debut title became the first-ever debut game to win the coveted Game of the Year award, overcoming strong competition from titles like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Hades II.
- Major Craft Awards: Expedition 33 dominated the creative categories, taking home wins for Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, and Best Score and Music, cementing its status as a critical darling and a landmark achievement for an independent studio. The victory underscored a growing shift in the industry, proving that innovation and narrative depth can triumph over pure AAA budget.
Major Franchise Revivals and Surprises
Beyond the awards, the announcements gave fans across several legacy franchises reasons to cheer:
The Star Wars Double-Header
Star Wars fans were treated to two massive reveals:
- Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic: Announced with significant fanfare, this new title is being directed by BioWare veteran Casey Hudson, a key figure in the original Knights of the Old Republic development. Pitched as a spiritual successor, the in-depth RPG promises a return to the beloved era and lore of the Old Republic, filling a void felt by fans for decades.
- Star Wars: Galactic Racer: A surprise announcement that sees the franchise return to its arcade racing roots, following in the vein of the classic Podracer games.
The Tomb Raider Double-Dip
Lara Croft’s future is set to be simultaneously a look forward and a look back, with the reveal of two titles:
- Tomb Raider: Catalyst (2027): A brand new, contemporary entry that promises the largest Tomb Raider world yet, focusing on traversal, puzzle-solving, and custom adventure gear.
- Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (2026): A full, modern reimagining and remake of the original 1996 Tomb Raider game, set to bring the classic adventure to a new generation using Unreal Engine 5.
Control: Resonant and Resident Evil: Requiem
Remedy Entertainment confirmed the sequel to its 2019 hit with Control: Resonant. The game is set to star Dylan Faden, Jesse Faden’s brother, and will pivot the gameplay toward melee combat, offering a new perspective within the interconnected Remedy universe.
Capcom’s trailer for Resident Evil: Requiem delivered a huge surprise by confirming the return of fan-favorite Leon S. Kennedy as a second playable protagonist alongside Grace Ashcroft, signaling a return to the dual-narrative structure for the horror franchise.
Larian’s Next Epic and Mega Man’s Return
Baldur’s Gate 3 creators Larian Studios used the platform to confirm their next title, Divinity, an installment in their original IP that they boldly claimed would be “even larger than Baldur’s Gate 3,” immediately setting a new benchmark for fantasy RPG scale.
Finally, Capcom surprised long-time fans with the announcement of Mega Man: Dual Override, the first new mainline Mega Man game in seven years, confirming the blue bomber’s return to 2D side-scrolling action.
The Game Awards 2025 delivered on its promise of big announcements, establishing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the year’s undisputed champion while laying a foundation of highly-anticipated sequels and franchise reboots for the years to come.
