Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025's Gaming Honors
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards took place on Thursday, and with a remarkable performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the most decorated winner. The standout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive won the coveted Game of the Year award, along with honors for Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Complementing the developer's achievements, its talented performers also received individual awards. Jennifer English received Best Lead Performer for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Top Studio. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team collected seven awards during the show.
Additional major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Top Self-Published Indie and Premier PC Title. Notably, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the public, with only 4 categories—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame, and Streamers’ Choice—determined by critics.
Here is the full list of honorees from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Top Multiplayer Title – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – 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
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the full ceremony, the awards ceremony is available to watch via video following this article.
