Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025's Golden Joystick Ceremony
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted recently, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the top winner. This breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive won the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Complementing the studio's success, the gifted actors also garnered personal awards. Jennifer English was named Outstanding Lead Performance for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his work as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Best Development Team. In total, Clair Obscur and its developers achieved 7 awards throughout the event.
Additional major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and Best PC Game. It is important to note, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the gamers, with only four awards—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame, and Streamers’ Choice—decided by reviewers.
Here is the entire list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – 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 Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – 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 Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the actual ceremony, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be viewed online following this article.
