Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025's Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded recently, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the top winner. The surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive won the esteemed Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Enhancing the studio's achievements, its skilled cast also received personal awards. Jennifer English received Best Lead Performer for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his work as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Top Studio. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team won 7 awards during the ceremony.
Other standout winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Best PC Game. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only 4 categories—Critics Choice, Breakthrough, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers’ Choice—judged by critics.
Following is the full list of winners from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the full show, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards is available to watch online below.
