Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded on Thursday, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. The standout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the prestigious Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with honors for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Complementing the developer's success, its talented actors also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English received Top Lead Actor for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Best Supporting Performer for his work as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Studio of the Year. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its developers won seven awards during the show.
Other standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Best PC Game. It is important to note, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the public, with only four categories—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough Award, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers' Favorite—judged by reviewers.
Below is the full list of winners from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – 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 Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the live show, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be viewed online here.
