Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 receives Game of the Year at New York Game Awards 2026

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was awarded Game of the Year at the 15th Annual New York Game Awards last night.

Sandfall Interactive’s game took home two accolades overall, the second going to Jennifer English for her portrayal of Maelle in the Best Acting category.

Dogubomb’s Blue Prince was awarded Best Indie Game, with Poti Poti Studio’s This Seat Taken receiving the accolade for Best Mobile Game and Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza winning Best Kids Game.

Kenny Sun’s Ball x Pit won Best New York Game, a new award introduced for this year’s ceremony recognising games developed by studios in the city.

As previously announced, the Pokémon franchise received the Andrew Yoon Award.

“For 30 years, the franchise has grown to become the most recognisable game series in the world and is beloved by its unique monster designs that have compelled players young and old to catch ’em all,” said New York Videogame Critics Circle founder and president Harold Goldberg.

Last year’s recipient was Remedy creative director Sam Lake.

Elsewhere Supergiant Games’ won Best World, Sparrow Night’s News Tower received Best Hidden Gem, and People Make Games was recognised for the Best Games Journalism award.

Here are the full list of winners:

• Best Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
• Best Indie Game: Blue Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury)
• Best Mobile Game: Is This Seat Taken? (Poti Poti Studio/Wholesome Games Presents)
• Best AR/VR Game: Lumines Arise (Enhance, Monstars)
• Best Kids Game: Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
• Best New York Game: Ball x Pit (Kenny Sun/Devolver Digital)
• Best Writing in a Game: Blippo+ (Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Yacht/Panic Inc.)
• Best World: Hades 2 (Supergiant Games)
• Best Music in a Game: South of Midnight (Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios)
• Best Acting in a Game: Jennifer English as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Best Remake: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered (Virtuos, Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks)
• Best Hidden Gem: News Tower (Sparrow Night, Twin Sails Interactive)
• Best DLC: Lies of P: Overture (Neowiz, Round8 Studios)
• Best Games Journalism: People Make Games
• Andrew Yoon Legend Award Recipient: The Pokémon Company