Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025 Golden Joystick Ceremony
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards took place on Thursday, and in a stunning display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the top winner. The standout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the prestigious Top Game award, along with prizes for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's triumph, the talented actors also received individual awards. Jennifer English received Top Lead Actor for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his acting as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Studio of the Year. In total, Clair Obscur and its developers achieved seven awards throughout the event.
Other standout winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Outstanding Audio and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Top Self-Published Indie and PC Game of the Year. Worth mentioning, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the gamers, with only 4 categories—Critics’ Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—determined by critics.
Following is the complete list of honorees from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Best Storytelling – 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
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the live ceremony, the awards ceremony can be watched through streaming following this article.
