Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards took place this past week, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the top winner. The surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the coveted Game of the Year award, along with honors for Outstanding Narrative and Excellence in Visuals.
Adding to the studio's triumph, its gifted actors also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English received Best Lead Performer for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his work as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Top Studio. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its creative team achieved seven awards during the show.
Other major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Outstanding Audio and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Premier PC Title. Worth mentioning, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only four awards—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers' Favorite—decided by experts.
Below is the entire list of award recipients from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – 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
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the actual event, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 is available to watch online here.