Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards were hosted this past week, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. This surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the prestigious Game of the Year award, along with honors for Superb Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Enhancing the studio's success, its gifted cast also received personal awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Top Studio. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers won seven awards during the ceremony.
Additional major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Outstanding Independent Game and Best PC Game. Worth mentioning, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the public, with only 4 categories—Critics Choice, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame, and Streamers' Favorite—judged by reviewers.
Here is the complete list of winners from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Best Storytelling – 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 Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – 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 is available to watch online following this article.
