Clair Obscur Sweeps at the 2025's Golden Joystick Awards
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and in a stunning display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the top winner. The surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive won the esteemed Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Best Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Enhancing the developer's triumph, its gifted cast also received individual awards. Jennifer English won Best Lead Performer for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Supporting Performance Award for his acting as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Top Studio. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its makers won 7 awards throughout the event.
Other standout winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Outstanding Audio and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and Best PC Game. It is important to note, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the public, with only 4 categories—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame, and Streamers’ Choice—decided by experts.
Here is the complete list of award recipients from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – 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
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the actual event, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards is available to watch via video following this article.
