Clair Obscur Sweeps at the 2025's Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted this past week, and through an impressive display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the top winner. The standout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Superb Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Complementing the developer's triumph, the talented cast also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English won Best Lead Performer for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his acting as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Studio of the Year. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team collected seven awards throughout the ceremony.
Other major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the audience, with only four awards—Critics Choice, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers’ Choice—judged by experts.
Following is the complete list of honorees from the 2025 Golden Joystick 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 Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – 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 Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you who missed the actual event, the awards ceremony can be viewed online below.