Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins Big at GDC Awards 2026

The game takes home Game of the Year and four other top honors at the industry-voted event.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:54pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was the big winner at the 2026 Game Developers Choice Awards, taking home the Game of the Year award as well as wins for Best Debut, Best Visual Art, Best Audio, and Best Narrative. The game has now cemented its status as the title with the most Game of the Year wins. Other notable winners include Blue Prince for Best Design and Innovation Award, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach for Best Technology.

Why it matters

The GDC Awards are seen as one of the most prestigious honors in the video game industry, as the winners are selected by other game developers rather than public voting. Clair Obscur's multiple wins highlight its critical acclaim and influence among its peers, solidifying its place as one of the standout games of the past year.

The details

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was the big winner of the night, taking home five awards including the coveted Game of the Year prize. The game also won Best Debut, Best Visual Art, Best Audio, and Best Narrative. Other multiple award winners included Blue Prince, which won Best Design and the Innovation Award, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which won Best Technology.

  • The Game Developers Choice Awards took place on March 13, 2026 at the Game Developers Conference.

The players

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

An acclaimed video game developed by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive.

Blue Prince

A video game developed by Dogubomb and published by Raw Fury.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

A video game developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Rebecca Heineman

The founder of Interplay Productions and Contraband Entertainment, and a game developer who worked in the industry for 45 years.

Don Daglow

One of the original members who started Intellivision at Mattel, and a game developer who has worked on over 100 games and founded Stormfront Studios.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Don Daglow and Rebecca Heineman helped define what games could become, and their innovations continue to influence how developers create today. As GDC Festival of Gaming transforms alongside a rapidly changing industry, their legacy reminds us that creativity, conviction, and bold experimentation are what move this medium forward.”

— Nina Brown, GDC President

The takeaway

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's multiple award wins at the prestigious GDC Awards, including Game of the Year, cement its status as one of the most critically acclaimed and influential games of the past year. The recognition from fellow developers highlights the game's technical achievements, artistic vision, and narrative storytelling, solidifying its place among the industry's elite.