Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads Meta Awards’ documented all-time Game of the Year (GOTY) leaderboard with 540 entries, ahead of Elden Ring at 436—a 104-award gap. Those figures, shown as updated October 2, 2026, count tracked overall GOTY selections, not every prize in every category and not a certified worldwide total.
What the record means—and what it does not
Meta Awards’ leaderboard ranks Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 first among games in its documented all-time GOTY tally. The site’s 2025 season page reports that 540 of 760 tracked selections went to Expedition 33, or 71.1%. It divides those entries into 386 media outlet picks and 154 readers’ choice picks.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PS5 | $46.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5) | $41.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - For PS5 | $45.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - For PlayStation 5 | $67.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Metaphor: ReFantazio Launch Edition - PlayStation 5 | $38.89 | Buy on Amazon |
The number is a count of selections tracked by Meta Awards, not an industry-wide census. The site says its totals are documented minimums: unrecorded awards are not included. It also marks the 2025 season partial because it has not reached its stated census-breadth threshold. The leaderboard is therefore best read as a record within Meta Awards’ documented database, rather than proof that every award worldwide has been counted.
The word “award” needs a similarly precise scope. Meta Awards counts an outlet’s overall Game of the Year selection, regardless of platform or genre. It excludes category prizes such as Best RPG and platform-specific GOTY awards. Media and readers’ choice selections can both count, and the tracker labels them separately. Its methodology and caveats are explained in Meta Awards’ methodology; the figures appear on its all-time leaderboard and 2025 season page.
#1 Best Overall
- Reactive Turn-based Combat: Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and &character synergies
- Dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system
- With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, & fellow Expeditioners as they embark on a desperate quest to break Paintress’ cycle of death
- Explore an enchanting realm populated by adversaries; Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack
Expedition 33 and Elden Ring on the tracker
| Game | Documented overall GOTY selections | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | 540 | Meta Awards, leaderboard updated October 2, 2026 |
| Elden Ring | 436 | Meta Awards, leaderboard updated October 2, 2026 |
| Expedition 33’s lead | 104 | Calculated from the two Meta Awards leaderboard totals |
The gap is between tracked overall GOTY selections. It does not mean Expedition 33 has won 104 more prizes of every kind. The tally also pools different kinds of voters: the media and readers’ choice entries are both included in its total.
How the tracker differs from a ceremony’s winners
A pooled leaderboard and a single ceremony answer different questions. Meta Awards aggregates eligible GOTY picks across outlets and reader polls; a ceremony reports the awards decided by its own voting body.
Rank #2
- Reactive Turn-based Combat - In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Build your party and level up six characters. Craft unique builds for your expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat - dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free-aim system.
- “Tomorrow Comes” - With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.
- A Hauntingly Beautiful World - Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend and recruit a special companion who can access new travel methods and secret areas in the World Map.
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack.
- European/ UK version
At the 29th D.I.C.E. Awards, held February 12, 2026, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences gave Expedition 33 five honors: Game of the Year, Role-Playing Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Story, Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, and Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction. BAFTA’s 2026 Games Awards separately named it winner of Best Game and Debut Game. These official ceremony results demonstrate recognition in their own competitions; they should not be silently added to Meta Awards’ 540 entries as if all were one measure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What kind of game earned the attention
Released April 24, 2025, Expedition 33 is a turn-based role-playing game set in a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France. Its combat layers real-time actions onto turn-based encounters: players can dodge, parry, counter, chain attacks by learning rhythms, and target enemy weak points. That mix lets battles demand timing as well as party and turn planning.
Rank #3
- Engaging Storyline: Dive into a rich, narrative-driven adventure with unexpected twists.
- Complex Puzzles: Test your problem-solving skills with challenging puzzles.
- Immersive World: Explore a visually stunning alien planet with breathtaking details and treacherous terrain.
On PS5, players can change difficulty at any time among Story, Expeditioner, and Expert. PlayStation lists English and French voice-over, alongside multiple subtitle languages. The game is available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S; PlayStation says there is no PS4 version. Check the relevant store page for the edition and platform you intend to play.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- IGN and GameSpot "Game of the Year" and "Best RPG" from The Game Awards
- ATLUS' newest fantasy JRPG with beautiful anime cutscenes
- Free demo with save-data carry over
- Awaken 40+ "Archetypes," magical powers that lie dormant in your heart
- Innovative battle system that blends strategic turn-based combat and dynamic real-time combat
Rank #4
- Engaging Storyline: Dive into a rich, narrative-driven adventure with unexpected twists.
- Complex Puzzles: Test your problem-solving skills with challenging puzzles.
- Immersive World: Explore a visually stunning alien planet with breathtaking details and treacherous terrain.
Sources
- Meta Awards all-time leaderboard and 2025 season page and methodology for the documented tally, split, eligibility rules, and limitations.
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences’ D.I.C.E. Awards announcement for the five ceremony wins and date.
- BAFTA’s 2026 Games Awards winners for Best Game and Debut Game.
- PlayStation’s product page for PS5 details, difficulty options, and language information.
- Bandai Namco’s official game page for release date, platforms, setting, and combat description.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
