Clair Obscur Dominates at the 2025's Golden Joystick Awards
The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded recently, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the top winner. The standout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with honors for Outstanding Narrative and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's achievements, its skilled cast also received individual awards. Jennifer English received Best Lead Performer for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Top Studio. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team achieved seven awards throughout the ceremony.
Additional major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Best Audio Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and PC Game of the Year. Worth mentioning, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the audience, with only four categories—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamer Selection—judged by critics.
Following is the entire list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the actual show, the awards ceremony is available to watch via video below.
