Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded recently, and in a stunning performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the most decorated winner. This surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the esteemed Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Best Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's triumph, the talented cast also received individual awards. Jennifer English was named Best Lead Performer for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Supporting Performance Award for his work as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself received Studio of the Year. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team collected 7 awards throughout the ceremony.
Additional major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only 4 awards—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers' Favorite—decided by experts.
Here is the entire list of honorees from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Top Indie (Self-Published) – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – 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’ Choice – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the live event, the awards ceremony is available to watch online here.
