Clair Obscur Dominates at the 2025's Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards took place this past week, and in a stunning show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. This standout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Enhancing the studio's triumph, its gifted performers also received personal awards. Jennifer English was named Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Actor for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself received Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers won 7 awards during the ceremony.
Additional standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Top Self-Published Indie and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only four awards—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough Award, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers’ Choice—decided by reviewers.
Here is the complete list of honorees from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Best Storytelling – 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
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – 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 – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the actual ceremony, the awards ceremony is available to watch via video following this article.
