Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards took place recently, and in a stunning performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the most decorated winner. The surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive secured the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Superb Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Complementing the studio's triumph, the gifted actors also received individual awards. Jennifer English received Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his acting as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive the studio was honored as Top Studio. Overall, Clair Obscur and its creative team won 7 awards throughout the event.
Other major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and PC Game of the Year. It is important to note, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the audience, with only four categories—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers’ Choice—judged by critics.
Following is the full list of award recipients from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the full ceremony, the awards ceremony can be viewed online below.
