Expedition 33 Triumphs at the 2025's Golden Joystick Ceremony
The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards took place on Thursday, and through an impressive display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the most decorated winner. This breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive won the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Outstanding Narrative and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the studio's triumph, its talented performers also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English won Outstanding Lead Performance for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Best Supporting Actor for his work as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Top Studio. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its developers won seven awards throughout the ceremony.
Other major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Best PC Game. Worth mentioning, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the audience, with only 4 special—Critics Choice, Breakthrough Award, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamer Selection—determined by critics.
Below is the entire list of award recipients from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Outstanding Narrative – 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
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming 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
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the live show, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 can be watched online below.
