Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards took place recently, and in a stunning show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the top winner. This breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Outstanding Narrative and Best Visual Design.
Complementing the developer's success, its gifted actors also garnered personal awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Best Development Team. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its developers achieved seven awards during the event.
Additional major winners included 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. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the public, with only 4 categories—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamer Selection—judged by critics.
Here is the entire list of honorees from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough 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 Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – 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 show, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be watched through streaming here.
