Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025's Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and in a stunning performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the biggest winner. This surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Top Game award, along with accolades for Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's triumph, its talented performers also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English was named Outstanding Lead Performance for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Performer for his work as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Top Studio. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team won 7 awards during the ceremony.
Other major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Top Self-Published Indie and Premier PC Title. Worth mentioning, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only four categories—Critics Choice, Breakthrough Award, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers' Favorite—judged by experts.
Here is the full list of winners 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
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the full show, the awards ceremony is available to watch online here.
