Clair Obscur Dominates at the 2025 Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the most decorated winner. This breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the coveted Top Game award, along with accolades for Best Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Enhancing the studio's achievements, the talented cast also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his acting as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Top Studio. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its developers won seven awards during the event.
Additional major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which received Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and Best PC Game. Worth mentioning, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only four categories—Critics’ Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamers’ Choice—determined by reviewers.
Below is the full list of award recipients from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the actual event, the awards ceremony can be watched via video here.
