Featured Image Credit: Kepler Interactive
Topics: Xbox, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Microsoft
Topics: Xbox, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Microsoft
Despite recent controversy, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has single-handedly dominated 2025 when it comes to every aspect of the gaming industry.
During The Game Awards 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 managed to bag itself the most number of wins in history, including Best RPG, Best Score and Soundtrack, Best Narrative, Best Performance, and more.
And, of course, it also walked away with the Game of the Year trophy.
Praised for its narrative and themes, art and game direction, performances, soundtrack, and more, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may seem like it is at the top of every list this year, but it seems as though another title has claimed the top, at least for Xbox Game Pass.
Advert
Before that though, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was first released back in April by French studio Sandfall Interactive.
Published by Kepler Interactive, the RPG is set in a dark fantasy Belle Époque universe where we follow a bunch of volunteers for Expedition 33.
It is their goal to finally destroy the Paintress, a being who causes a yearly Gommage, erasing the lives of those at or above an ever-decreasing age.
Our very own Dan Lipscombe called Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 “a beautifully painted, emotional RPG bursting with new ideas” in his review.
“It whisks the player away into a truly impactful world, with a powerful and emotional story bubbling away, enhanced by some stellar acting,” he wrote.
“There were moments I was brought to spilling a couple of tears, alongside some that had me laughing riotously.
“The battles, which can so often feel stagnant in a bustling genre, are refreshing, tactical, and delightful.
This is a wonderfully imaginative game, bursting with identity, and it has a lot to say about important topics.”
However, as mentioned, there is one list that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 did not top.
According to Metacritic, the top Xbox title of 2025 was not the French RPG but rather Split Fiction.
Metacritic reveals that whilst Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 scored a 91 user score, it was Split Fiction that topped the leaderboard at a whopping 93.
Developed by Hazelight Studios, Split Fiction is the latest co-op adventure game in its collection, tasking players with teaming up to help authors Mio Hudson and Zoe Foster after they become imprisoned in their own fantasy worlds.
Here at GAMINGbible, we also awarded Split Fiction a 10/10 with our very own Kate Harrold and Sam Cawley calling it “a tour de force with extra wow factor”.
“Split Fiction has a wow factor that’s surprisingly hard to come by, despite how advanced consoles now are,” we wrote.
“Hazelight didn’t just set out to make a great game; it’s a great game that dares to push the boundaries of what this generation can be.
It’s a triumphant tour de force that aims to be so much, from a commentary on the state of the creative arts to a love letter to gaming, and manages to succeed in every area.”
So there you have it, Split Fiction was definitely a major contender for that Game of the Year trophy but was just pipped to the post by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.