Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards were hosted this past week, and with a remarkable performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. This surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with honors for Outstanding Narrative and Top Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's triumph, its talented actors also received individual awards. Jennifer English was named Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Best Supporting Performer for his work as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself received Best Development Team. In total, Clair Obscur and its developers won seven awards throughout the show.
Other standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Top Self-Published Indie and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the gamers, with only four special—Critics’ Choice, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamer Selection—decided by experts.
Below is the complete list of winners from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – 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
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – 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
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you who missed the actual show, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 can be viewed online here.
