Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025's Golden Joystick Awards
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and in a stunning display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the most decorated winner. The breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the prestigious Top Game award, along with prizes for Best Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's triumph, its gifted performers also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his acting as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive the studio was honored as Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its creative team achieved 7 awards during the event.
Other standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Outstanding Independent Game and PC Game of the Year. Worth mentioning, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only 4 awards—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—judged by reviewers.
Below is the complete list of honorees from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visuals – 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 – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the live event, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be watched via video here.
