Expedition 33 Triumphs at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and in a stunning performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the biggest winner. The surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive won the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with honors for Best Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Adding to the developer's success, the talented cast also received individual awards. Jennifer English won Best Lead Performer for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Top Studio. In total, Clair Obscur and its developers won seven awards throughout the ceremony.
Additional notable winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and Premier PC Title. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only four special—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers’ Choice—judged by experts.
Here is the full list of winners from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the actual show, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 can be viewed through streaming below.
