Released three years apart - Elden Ring in February 2022 and Clair Obscur in April 2025 - these RPG giants have redefined their genres and shattered award records. Elden Ring, FromSoftware's open-world soulslike epic, swept the 2022 Game Awards, including Game of the Year (GOTY), and amassed 429 GOTY wins, the most ever at the time. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive's turn-based RPG with real-time twists, claimed the 2025 Game Awards GOTY and now holds 436 GOTY awards, dethroning Elden Ring as the most awarded game in history.
But what if they clashed head-to-head in the same year? Would FromSoftware's sprawling fantasy conqueror edge out the indie sensation's emotional, artistic triumph? Let's break it down category by category.
The Contenders
Elden Ring: Crafted by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin, this is a vast open world brimming with cryptic lore, punishing combat, and endless secrets. Players ride across the Lands Between as the Tarnished, piecing together a shattered Elden Ring while battling colossal bosses. It sold over 30 million copies.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: A story-driven RPG where Expeditioners sail a surreal world to slay the Paintress, who erases people at age 33. Turn-based battles blend with real-time dodges, parries, and combos, all wrapped in breathtaking, painterly visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5. It sold over 5 million copies swiftly, a massive win for a sub-$10M budget indie.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Elden Ring | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Edge To... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metacritic Critic | 96 (PS5) | 92 | Elden Ring |
| Metacritic User | 8.4 | 9.5 (highest ever) | Clair Obscur |
| Gameplay | Seamless open-world exploration, precise action combat, build variety. Bosses demand mastery. | Hybrid turn-based: Queue actions, then real-time QTEs for parries/dodges. Deep strategy, accessible thrill. | Tie |
| Story & Characters | Fragmented lore via items/environment. Iconic but opaque. | Gripping narrative, mature themes, lovable ensemble. "One and done" emotional punch. | Clair Obscur |
| World & Exploration | Massive, interconnected seamless map. Pure discovery joy. | Linear hubs with surreal, hand-painted beauty. Variety in biomes. | Elden Ring |
| Graphics & Art | Stunning 2022 vistas, atmospheric decay. | Unreal Engine 5 painterly style, next-gen fluidity. "Art direction nailed it." | Clair Obscur |
| Sound & Music | Epic orchestral swells, iconic chants. | Lush, emotional score; voice acting shines. | Tie |
| Innovation | Open-world soulslike blueprint. Changed gaming. | Revitalized turn-based with action flair. Indie daring. | Elden Ring |
| Replayability | Infinite builds, NG+, DLCs. 1000+ hours possible. | NG+ modes, but story-focused. Shorter campaign. | Elden Ring |
| Sales Momentum | 30M+ lifetime. | 5M+ in months; post-TGA surge. | Elden Ring |
Gameplay Deep Dive
Elden Ring's combat is adrenaline-fueled: Roll through attacks, stagger foes, unleash ashes of war. Exploration feels alive - Torrent your mount across golden fields to unearth cathedrals and ruins.
Clair Obscur flips the script: Turns for commands, then active-time reactions like perfect parries for big damage. Bosses demand pattern reads and party synergy, blending brains and reflexes. It's "Persona 5 meets Final Fantasy with soulslike edge."
Fans debate endlessly: Elden Ring for raw freedom, Clair Obscur for polished feels.
The Verdict
In a hypothetical same-year showdown, Elden Ring takes it - barely. Its genre-redefining scale, boundless replayability, and critic acclaim (96 Metacritic) would dominate juried awards like The Game Awards. The open world was a revolution; nothing matched its ambition.
Yet Clair Obscur fights valiantly with superior user love (9.5), narrative depth, and visuals that scream 2025 tech. Its record-shattering awards prove mass appeal - it already beat Elden Ring's tally in reality. Voters might split: Critics to FromSoftware, players to Sandfall.
Winner: Elden Ring (by a boss soul's width). But play both - gaming's richer for it.
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