Clair Obscur Sweeps at the 2025's Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards took place this past week, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the biggest winner. This surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Best Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Enhancing the developer's achievements, the gifted performers also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his work as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio was honored as Top Studio. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers won 7 awards throughout the show.
Other major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Outstanding Audio and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Top Self-Published Indie and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the gamers, with only four awards—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers' Favorite—judged by reviewers.
Below is the full list of honorees from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Top Indie (Self-Published) – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game 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 – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the full event, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 can be watched through streaming following this article.
