Clair Obscur Dominates at the 2025's Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards took place recently, and with a remarkable display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the top winner. This standout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive won the coveted Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's success, the gifted performers also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English was named Best Lead Performer for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Supporting Performance Award for his work as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Best Development Team. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its creative team won seven awards during the show.
Other standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and PC Game of the Year. Worth mentioning, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the gamers, with only 4 awards—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame, and Streamers' Favorite—decided by experts.
Here is the full list of honorees from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Top Indie (Self-Published) – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the full ceremony, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be viewed via video following this article.
