Clair Obscur Sweeps at the 2025's Gaming Honors
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and through an impressive display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the top winner. The standout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with honors for Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's achievements, its gifted performers also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English won Best Lead Performer for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Studio of the Year. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its developers collected seven awards during the ceremony.
Other notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and Premier PC Title. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only four awards—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamer Selection—determined by experts.
Here is the entire list of honorees from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best 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 – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the full ceremony, the awards ceremony is available to watch online below.
