Expedition 33 Triumphs at the 2025's Golden Joystick Awards
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the top winner. The surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the prestigious Top Game award, along with prizes for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Complementing the studio's achievements, the talented cast also garnered personal awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his role as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Top Studio. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its developers won seven awards during the ceremony.
Additional major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and PC Game of the Year. Worth mentioning, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the public, with only 4 categories—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough Award, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamer Selection—judged by critics.
Following is the complete list of award recipients from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- 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 – REPO
- Top Score – 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 Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best 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 Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you who missed the full ceremony, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 can be watched through streaming here.
