Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Dominates 2026 Game Developer Choice Awards Nominations
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The 26th annual Game Developer Choice Award (GDCA) just dropped its finalist list, and one name stands out among the rest. I’m talking about the Xbox Game Pass day-one launch, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is everywhere this year. According to Game Industry Biz, the turn-based RPG picked up eight nominations across nine categories, making it the clear frontrunner heading into GDCA 2026.
It now sits next to Hollow Knight: Silksong, Ghost of Yōtei, and Donkey Kong Bananza. Meanwhile, Sony’s Ghost of Yōtei followed with five nominations, spanning across Narrative, Audio, Visual Art, and Technology categories. Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza earned four nominations, while Death Stranding 2: On the Beach secured three major mentions.
The 26th annual Game Developer Choice Award takes place on March 12 during the GDC Festival of Gaming, which runs from March 9 through March 13 at San Francisco’s Moscone Convention Center. The Independent Games Festival Awards will follow on March 11. You can catch both events on Twitch.
26th Annual Game Developer Choice Awards (2026) Nominees
| Category | Finalists |
| Game of the Year | Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Donkey Kong Bananza, Ghost of Yōtei, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Split Fiction |
| Best Debut | Ball x Pit, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Dispatch |
| Best Design | Ball x Pit, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Donkey Kong Bananza, Split Fiction |
| Best Narrative | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Despelote, Dispatch, Ghost of Yōtei, Split Fiction |
| Best Visual Art | Absolum, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Hades 2, Keeper |
| Best Audio | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Rift of the NecroDancer, South of Midnight |
| Best Technology | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Ghost of Yōtei, Split Fiction |
| Innovation Award | Ball x Pit, Baby Steps, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Donkey Kong Bananza |
| Social Impact Award | And Roger, Consume Me, Despelote, Dispatch |
Which of these games do you predict will take home awards in their respective categories? Share your favorites in the comments below.
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