Clair Obscur Sweeps at the 2025's Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the most decorated winner. The breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive won the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with honors for Outstanding Narrative and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the studio's achievements, the gifted performers also garnered personal awards. Jennifer English was named Best Lead Performer for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his work as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself received Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its developers won seven awards throughout the show.
Additional notable winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Top Self-Published Indie and Best PC Game. Notably, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the public, with only four categories—Critics’ Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamers’ Choice—judged by experts.
Here is the full list of honorees from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Top 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
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the actual show, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 is available to watch through streaming following this article.
