The title of Game of the Year at the 2026 Game Developers Choice Awards has been awarded to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

During the 26th edition of the Game Developers Choice Awards held last evening, the game "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" by Sandfall Interactive earned five trophies, including the prestigious Game of the Year award.

The role-playing game also triumphed in four other categories: Best Debut, Best Visual Art, Best Audio, and Best Narrative.

"Blue Prince," a puzzle-adventure game developed by Dogubomb, won accolades for Best Design and Innovation.

"Death Stranding 2: On the Beach" from Kojima Productions was recognized for Best Technology. The Social Impact Award went to "Consume Me" by Jenny Jiao Hsia and AP Thomson, while the Audience Award was awarded to TearyHand Studio's "And Roger."

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award celebrated the contributions of veteran Don Daglow, whereas Rebecca Heineman, co-founder of Interplay Productions, was posthumously honored with the Ambassador Award.

Simultaneously, the 28th Independent Games Festival Awards took place, where "Titanium Court" by AP Thomson was celebrated with the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and the Excellence in Design recognition.

The Nuovo Award was captured by Santa Ragione and Andrea Lucco Borlera’s horror adventure, "Horses," and Mixed Realms' "13Z: The Zodiac Trials" was distinguished with the Wings Award.

"Eclipsium" created by Housefire took the award for Excellence in Visual Art, and "Perfect Tides: Station to Station" by Three Bees received the Excellence in Narrative award. The Excellence in Audio was won by "Baby Steps," a game developed by Gabe Cuzillo, Maxi Boch, and Bennett Foddy.

The complete list of winners from both events is as follows:

2026 GDCA Winners

Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
Best Debut: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Best Visual Art: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Best Audio: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Best Narrative: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Best Technology: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Best Design: Blue Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury)
Audience Award: And Roger (TearyHand Studio/Kodansha)
Social Impact Award: Consume Me (Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson/Hexacutable)
Innovation Award: Blue Prince
Ambassador Award: Rebecca Heineman
Lifetime Achievement Award: Don Daglow

2026 IGF Winners

Seumas McNally Grand Prize: Titanium Court (AP Thomson/Fellow Traveller)
Excellence in Visual Art: Eclipsium (Housefire/Critical Reflex)
Excellence in Audio: Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy/Devolver Digital)
Excellence in Design: Titanium Court
Excellence in Narrative: Perfect Tides: Station to Station (Three Bees)
Nuovo Award: Horses (Santa Ragione, Andrea Lucco Borlera)
Wings Award: 13Z: The Zodiac Trials (Mixed Realms)
Audience Award: Wednesdays (Pierre Corbinais, The Pixel Hunt, Exaheva, Christophe Galati)
Best Student Game: Poco (Whalefall/Micah Boursier)