If surpsassing Baldurs Gate 3 and Elden Ring as the most-awarded games at the Game Awards wasn't enough, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 just earned another historic achievement. This one came from the French government.

The French Ministry of Culture just knighted the developers of the 2025 Game of the Year winner, Sandfall Interactive. They were recognized as Knights of Order, donning eight-pointed silver medallions on their chests.

To achieve this honor, the recipients needed to have “significantly contributed” to enrich the cultural inheritance of France. The over 93,500 "overwhelmingly positive" reviews on Steam can certainly attest to that. 

During the speech, the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, said, “By its scale, by its impact, and by the support of the public as well as the critics, your work Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has established itself as a major moment in the history of French video games.” [Translated from French by Google Translate]

The French JRPG claimed popularity by winning several other awards, including the GOTY, Best RPG, Best Debut Indie Game, Best Independent Game, Best Performance (Jennifer English as Maelle), Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Narrative, Best Game Direction, and it got nominated for the Best Audio Design. 

After the monumental achievement by the small studio of mostly ex-Ubisoft devs, Sandfall Interactive had a message for the fans.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Devs React

Taking to LinkedIn, Sandfall Interactive shared a few pictures of the developers posing with their medallions. But it was the caption that stole the spotlight. 

“From Expeditioners to Knights! We were received yesterday at the Ministry of Culture to celebrate our game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,” the caption read.

“As such, the members of Sandfall Interactive were awarded the Order of Arts and Letters. This distinction honors us, and our deepest thanks go especially to our team, who shaped this world, and to the millions of players who have brought it to life," they wrote.

"We hope that our journey will inspire all those who wish to take the plunge and create their own work," they added.

Sandfall Interactive turned an indie project into a global phenomenon and earned national recognition for its cultural impact. The studio now aims to build on its success, although they haven't officially announced what the next project will be.

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Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi