Fans of this recent release think it’s a shoe-in for GOTY

You could say it’s a bit too early to tell who has what it takes for GOTY 2025. But for one game, players are already calling it, and it hasn’t even been out a month. Too soon? Maybe. But after playing it myself, I’m ready to jump on the bandwagon.

The game in question is none other than Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard whispers of this dazzling dark horse. In just a few short weeks, it’s gone from sleeper title to full-blown sensation, with fans rallying behind it like it’s already GOTY royalty. One Reddit post asking, “Do you think the game deserves GOTY 2025?” has racked up more than 11,000 upvotes, echoing a resounding yes from a growing legion of believers.

One user writes, “People will say it’s too early, but based on my own experience, I don’t see anything coming close.” I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the same, even with heavy hitters like Monster Hunter Wilds, South of Midnight, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 on my GOTY radar. Expedition 33 is simply in a league of its own. It’s not flawless, but it sure feels that way when you’re swept up in its spellbinding story. I binged it from start to finish, unable to put it down until I had uncovered every last secret of the elusive Paintress.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has even gone a step beyond being the crowned favorite of 2025. One Redditor went so far as to call it their “top favorite game from the past 40 years.” And they’re not alone—posts like that have surfaced increasingly since launch. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s eventually considered one of the all-time greats as the fanbase grows.

On the other hand, not everyone’s convinced it’s the outright winner. Some believe it’s more in the realm of a strong nominee than a lock for the title. Big names are still on the horizon, like Death Stranding 2 and Mario Kart World. Though it’s been a while since a Mario game took home GOTY, if any title could break that streak, Mario Kart World might just be the one to do it.

Still, even with the debate, there’s one thing just about everyone agrees on: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has the Best Soundtrack award in the bag. The score became so impressive that it shot straight to number one on the Billboard Classical Albums chart. But, given how much there is to be impressed by, I have a feeling the game will acquire plenty more awards to dominate the Game Awards.