Clair Obscur Dominates at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards took place recently, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. The standout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the prestigious Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Outstanding Narrative and Best Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's triumph, the skilled cast also garnered personal awards. Jennifer English received Best Lead Performer for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Supporting Performance Award for his work as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself received Studio of the Year. In total, Clair Obscur and its makers collected 7 awards throughout the event.
Additional major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Premier PC Title. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only four awards—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough Award, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamer Selection—determined by experts.
Following is the entire list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Top 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
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – 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
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the actual event, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be viewed through streaming below.
