Expedition 33 Triumphs at the 2025's Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted on Thursday, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the top winner. This breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the coveted Top Game award, along with honors for Outstanding Narrative and Excellence in Visuals.
Complementing the developer's triumph, the gifted cast also received personal awards. Jennifer English received Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Actor for his acting as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Studio of the Year. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team achieved 7 awards throughout the show.
Additional major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Outstanding Independent Game and PC Game of the Year. It is important to note, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the public, with only 4 awards—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamer Selection—decided by reviewers.
Below is the entire list of award recipients 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
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Top Indie (Self-Published) – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – 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
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – 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
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the full event, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be watched through streaming below.
