Clair Obscur Sweeps at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and in a stunning display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the top winner. This surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Best Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Enhancing the studio's success, the gifted performers also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its developers collected 7 awards throughout the event.
Additional standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Outstanding Audio and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the audience, with only four awards—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers’ Choice—decided by critics.
Below is the complete list of honorees from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the actual show, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 is available to watch via video following this article.