Clair Obscur Dominates at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards took place recently, and in a stunning performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the top winner. This breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the prestigious Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Outstanding Narrative and Top Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's success, its talented performers also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English won Best Lead Performer for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Top Studio. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its developers won 7 awards during the show.
Other major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Outstanding Audio and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Top Self-Published Indie and Premier PC Title. Worth mentioning, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the gamers, with only 4 categories—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame, and Streamers' Favorite—decided by reviewers.
Below is the full list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Top Indie (Self-Published) – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the actual ceremony, the awards ceremony can be viewed via video below.
