Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025 Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards were hosted recently, and in a stunning performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the top winner. This surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with honors for Outstanding Narrative and Best Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's success, its talented cast also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English was named Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Actor for his work as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Top Studio. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its creative team collected seven awards throughout the show.
Other standout winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Top Self-Published Indie and Best PC Game. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only 4 categories—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamer Selection—decided by critics.
Following is the complete list of winners from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visual Design – 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
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – 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 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
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the full ceremony, the awards ceremony can be viewed via video following this article.
