Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025 Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded on Thursday, and in a stunning show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the top winner. This breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the prestigious Game of the Year award, along with honors for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the studio's success, the gifted cast also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his acting as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio was honored as Studio of the Year. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its creative team collected seven awards throughout the ceremony.
Additional major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and Best PC Game. Worth mentioning, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only four categories—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—decided by experts.
Here is the entire list of honorees from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Best Remake / 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
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the live ceremony, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards is available to watch through streaming following this article.