Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Extends Its Record-Breaking GOTY Lead Over Elden Ring and Every Other Game in History

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The RPG beat out formidable contenders such as Arc Raiders, Blue Prince, and Ghost of Yōtei for the evening’s top honors. Other highlights from the ceremony included South of Midnight taking home a well-earned win for its striking animation, Blue Prince being recognized for superior game design, and Ghost of Yōtei collecting three awards. It was also heartening to see independent titles like Consume Me and Despelote remaining competitive in general categories rather than being limited to indie-specific brackets.

Here is the full list of winners from the 2026 DICE Awards:

• Outstanding Achievement in Animation – South of Midnight
• Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Outstanding Achievement in Character – Ghost of Yōtei (Atsu)
• Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition – Ghost of Yōtei
• Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Outstanding Achievement in Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Outstanding Technical Achievement – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Action Game of the Year – Hades 2
• Adventure Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
• Family Game of the Year – LEGO Party!
• Fighting Game of the Year – Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
• Racing Game of the Year – Mario Kart World
• Role-Playing Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Sports Game of the Year – Rematch
• Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year – The Alters
• Online Game of the Year – Arc Raiders
• Immersive Reality Technical Achievement – Hotel Infinity
• Immersive Reality Game of the Year – Ghost Town
• Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game – Blue Prince
• Mobile Game of the Year – Persona5: The Phantom X
• Outstanding Achievement in Game Design – Blue Prince
• Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

In a bizarre twist, a Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 fan reported that their official merchandise was detained by customs officials. Authorities reportedly flagged the game’s art book as a potential historical artifact, claiming it “looked a bit too ancient” to be a modern product.