Expedition 33 Triumphs at the 2025 Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the top winner. This breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive won the prestigious Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Outstanding Narrative and Best Visual Design.
Complementing the studio's achievements, its talented actors also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Actor for his work as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Studio of the Year. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers achieved seven awards during the ceremony.
Additional major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Best PC Game. It is important to note, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the audience, with only four categories—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers’ Choice—decided by experts.
Here is the entire list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Top Multiplayer Title – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – 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
- Streamer Favorite – 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 – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the full event, the awards ceremony can be viewed through streaming here.