Japanese Developers and Celebrities Vote Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as Game of the Year in Famitsu Survey

Famitsu has released its annual poll, asking the Japanese gaming industry to weigh in on their favorite game of the year, and the results might surprise you.

For years, the renowned Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has surveyed game developers to determine the industry’s game of the year. Last year’s champion was Dragon Quest 3: HD-2D Remake, while previous winners included titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Elden Ring, and Death Stranding. So, which game took the crown this time?

In a trend consistent with the broader gaming community, Japanese developers have voted Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as their game of the year. Rounding out the top five are Ghost of Yotei, which follows in the footsteps of 2020’s winner Ghost of Tsushima, and the mystery title Urban Myth Demolition Center in third place. Nintendo made a strong showing as well, with Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World securing the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

The list of developers surveyed includes notable figures such as Hideki Kamiya, the creator of Devil May Cry, Akira Yamaoka, composer for Silent Hill, Takayuki Nakayama, director of Street Fighter 6, and Katsuhiro Harada, who is set to step down from his role with Tekken.

While Famitsu’s website doesn’t disclose individual votes from developers, these selections often surface online later. This has led to some amusing revelations, like Final Fantasy 14’s Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) casting his vote solely for Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail, and former Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi choosing Castlevania Dominus Collection—a compilation of DS Castlevania games he directed—as his top pick.

The director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has mentioned that during the game’s development, they “tried” using AI but ultimately decided against it.