The best debut games from first-time developers

Going into 2025, you’d never have expected the gaming breakout of the year to be a turn-based RPG about French Instagram models grappling with the existential terror of turning 33. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sold more than 5 million copies, shattered records for Game Awards nominations and awards (including Game of the Year), and flooded every nerd convention with a sea of berets and striped shirts. Talk about one hell of a debut for developer Sandfall Interactive.