Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025's Gaming Honors
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted this past week, and with a remarkable show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the biggest winner. This breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive secured the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with honors for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's achievements, the gifted performers also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English was named Outstanding Lead Performance for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Performer for his acting as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Studio of the Year. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its developers achieved 7 awards during the show.
Additional notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the audience, with only four awards—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamer Selection—determined by critics.
Following is the complete list of winners from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Top Score – 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’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you who missed the live event, the awards ceremony is available to watch through streaming below.
