“Light & Shadow: Expedition 33” Sweeps 12 TGA Nominations, Setting New Historical Record!

In the recently announced nominations for The Game Awards (TGA) 2025 on the 17th, the indie game Light & Shadow: Expedition 33 emerged as the biggest dark horse, breaking records with 12 nominations and surpassing numerous AAA titles to top the nomination list. This role-playing game, developed by an independent studio, not only secured a nomination for Game of the Year but also set a new historical record for the most nominations in a single TGA ceremony.

Breakdown of Key Nominations

In addition to Game of the Year, the game stood out in technical and artistic categories, earning nominations for Best Independent Game, Best Narrative, Best Audio Design, Best Art Direction, and Best Game Direction, among other core awards. In the performance category, lead actors Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, and Jennifer English were all nominated for Best Performance, creating the rare scenario of “co-stars competing against each other.”

Official Gratitude Sparks Community Buzz

Shortly after the nominations were announced, the game’s official account posted a thank-you message on social media, sparking discussions among players worldwide. The message expressed special gratitude to the development team and the player community, stating, “These 12 nominations belong to every player who has accompanied Expedition 33 on this journey.”

Industry Insights

This achievement makes Light & Shadow: Expedition 33 the most-nominated game in TGA history, surpassing the previous record of 11 nominations held by Red Dead Redemption 2. Notably, the game also earned nominations in categories such as Best Role-Playing Game and Best Score/Music, demonstrating its all-around excellence in production quality.

As the TGA ceremony approaches, whether this indie game can convert its nominations into wins has become one of the most closely watched topics in the gaming industry. The 2025 TGA awards ceremony will take place on December 11 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.