There’s something deeply fascinating happening in the gaming world right now, and it’s not just about which game will take home the most trophies. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s historic 12 nominations at The Game Awards have exposed a fundamental tension in how we categorize and understand games in 2025. On one hand, we’re celebrating a masterpiece that apparently defies easy classification; on the other, we’re witnessing the complete breakdown of our traditional labels. What does it mean when a game with the production values of a blockbuster, backed by a publisher and supported by global studios, can dominate both the independent categories and the main stage? The gaming industry might need to have an honest conversation about what “indie” actually means in an era where the lines have become impossibly blurred.
Looking at Clair Obscur’s journey reveals the complexity of modern game development. Developed by a core team of about 30 people in Montpellier, France, the game somehow manages to feel both intimate and epic simultaneously. This isn’t the story of a lone developer in their basement creating magic with limited resources—it’s a carefully orchestrated production that leveraged global support studios while maintaining the creative vision of a relatively small team. The game’s presence in both Best Independent Game and Debut Indie Game categories suggests that The Game Awards jury is attempting to redefine what independence means, perhaps focusing more on creative autonomy than financial backing. But this creates a strange situation where a game competing against giants like Death Stranding 2 for Game of the Year can also be considered part of the indie scene.
The timing of this identity crisis is particularly interesting given last year’s controversy around Baldur’s Gate 3 not being considered indie. It feels like the industry is grappling with how to acknowledge games that exist in that nebulous space between traditional AAA and what we typically think of as indie. Some might call these AA games—a classification that’s been floating around industry discussions for years but hasn’t fully taken root in mainstream award shows. The problem isn’t just semantic; it’s about creating fair competition and recognizing the different contexts in which games are made. When a game with Kepler Interactive’s backing competes against truly independent productions, does it create an uneven playing field that could overshadow smaller, more vulnerable developers?
Beyond the indie debate, Clair Obscur’s dominance speaks to a broader shift in what gamers and critics value. The fact that a turn-based RPG inspired by classic games can capture the industry’s imagination in an era dominated by massive open worlds and cinematic action adventures suggests there’s still a deep hunger for thoughtful, strategic gameplay and compelling narratives. The game’s three acting nominations—for Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, and Jennifer English—also highlight how performance in games has evolved from simple voice work to something approaching traditional acting craft. This isn’t just about pretty graphics or technical innovation; it’s about emotional resonance and character development, elements that have become increasingly central to how we evaluate gaming experiences.
As we approach The Game Awards ceremony on December 11, the conversation around Clair Obscur’s nominations reveals more about our industry than any single award could. We’re witnessing the growing pains of an art form that refuses to be neatly categorized, where creative vision and production scale no longer follow predictable patterns. The traditional distinctions between indie and mainstream, between small and large, between artistic and commercial—they’re all breaking down. Perhaps what we’re seeing isn’t a problem to be solved but an evolution to be embraced. The gaming landscape is becoming richer and more diverse, and our categories need to catch up with that reality. Whether Clair Obscur sweeps the awards or not, its presence has already forced us to reconsider what we value and how we define success in this constantly evolving medium.
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