Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025's Golden Joystick Ceremony
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded recently, and in a stunning performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the biggest winner. This standout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Adding to the developer's success, its skilled performers also received personal awards. Jennifer English was named Best Lead Performer for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself received Studio of the Year. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its makers won seven awards during the show.
Other standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Outstanding Independent Game and Best PC Game. Worth mentioning, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the public, with only 4 categories—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough Award, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers’ Choice—decided by reviewers.
Here is the complete list of award recipients from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best 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
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the actual show, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards is available to watch online below.
