Clair Obscur Sweeps at the 2025's Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards took place recently, and in a stunning display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. The standout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Outstanding Narrative and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's success, the talented performers also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his acting as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its creative team won seven awards during the event.
Other major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Best PC Game. Worth mentioning, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the audience, with only four special—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamer Selection—judged by experts.
Here is the entire list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – 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
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the actual ceremony, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards is available to watch through streaming following this article.
