Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025's Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards were hosted on Thursday, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the most decorated winner. This surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive won the coveted Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Outstanding Narrative and Best Visual Design.
Enhancing the studio's success, its talented actors also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English received Best Lead Performer for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Best Supporting Actor for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Best Development Team. In total, Clair Obscur and its developers won 7 awards throughout the ceremony.
Additional major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Outstanding Audio and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Top Self-Published Indie and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the audience, with only four categories—Critics’ Choice, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamer Selection—decided by reviewers.
Below is the full 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 Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – 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 Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the actual ceremony, the awards ceremony can be watched via video following this article.