Expedition 33 Now Has Fans Divided on One Thing

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I have to say, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 totally lived up to the hype this year! It came out in April and everyone immediately loved it – the reviews were amazing and people were talking about it everywhere. Honestly, it quickly became the game of 2025 for me, and it seems like a lot of other people felt the same. That’s why I wasn’t surprised at all when it absolutely swept the Game Awards – it was the clear winner!

Some fans are questioning one of the recent awards given to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, arguing the game didn’t actually meet the criteria for that category. This debate highlights some important issues within the gaming industry, particularly when compared to larger, mainstream (AAA) titles. Here’s a closer look at why fans are raising concerns, and why their arguments may be valid.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is Facing Accusations Of Not Truly Being An Indie Game

The Game Awards were a huge success for Clair Obscur, winning 9 awards out of 12 nominations. One of those wins was for Best Indie Game, a category it qualified for as the first release from new developer Sandfall Interactive. However, some people question whether it truly fits the ‘indie’ label. While Sandfall Interactive is a new company, it was founded by experienced game developers, including former Ubisoft staff Guillaume Broche and Tom Guillermin, and received significant funding from Kepler Interactive, giving them a larger budget than many typical indie studios.

While $10 million is less than what’s usually spent on big-budget games, it’s a significant investment for most independent developers. The project’s quality also helped attract well-known actors like Charlie Cox, who stars in Daredevil: Born Again. A notable aspect of Clair Obscur is that it was created by a small core team, separate from the animators and musicians who also contributed.

Honestly, I was a little surprised when Clair Obscur won best indie game at The Game Awards, and I know I’m not the only one. It’s a great game, sure, but when you consider it had a $10 million budget and a really talented team working on it, it feels a bit different than what most people think of when they hear ‘indie.’ It’s awesome they made such a cool game, but it doesn’t quite feel like the underdog story you usually see with true indie titles, and a lot of fans and developers feel the same way.

What Even Counts As An Indie Game Anymore?

One challenge with defining ‘indie games’ is that the term covers a wide range of projects. Some are created by very small teams with limited funding, while others have larger teams and more financial support. The main difference between indie developers and big publishers is brand recognition and the amount of money invested. For example, even if a small team makes a new game related to a popular franchise like Nintendo, the connection to that established brand makes it feel less like a truly independent creation.

Looking at its development, Clair Obscur doesn’t quite fit into either the AAA or typical indie game categories. It’s an original story from a new developer, but it has the backing of a larger publisher and significant funding. Calling it an ‘AA’ game might be a better description. This success is particularly noteworthy because the gaming industry usually prioritizes well-known franchises over fresh ideas. In fact, games like Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong – both sequels from established developers – could also be considered ‘AA’ titles.

I’ve been thinking about what really makes a game ‘indie,’ and it’s tricky! Games like Blue Prince and Ball x Pit just feel like they were built from the ground up by a small team, which makes sense. But even Clair Obscur, despite being a bit more ambitious, has that same vibe – it feels a little rough around the edges, but in a good way! You can really feel the passion the developers put into it, and that’s something you don’t always see in big-budget games. Honestly, Clair Obscur feels like a project that couldn’t have been made at a huge studio, and that’s maybe the best way to define a true indie spirit. It does make you wonder where the industry is headed, and it’s easy to get distracted by the biggest indie hits, forgetting about all the other great, smaller games out there.

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2025-12-16 22:12