Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards were hosted recently, and in a stunning display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. This breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the coveted Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Best Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's triumph, its talented actors also garnered personal awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Performer for his acting as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio was honored as Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers achieved 7 awards during the ceremony.
Additional notable winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Outstanding Independent Game and Best PC Game. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the public, with only four special—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamers’ Choice—judged by critics.
Below is the complete list of honorees from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – 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
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the full event, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 is available to watch online following this article.
