Expedition 33 Triumphs at the 2025's Gaming Honors
The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards were hosted on Thursday, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the top winner. This standout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Top Game award, along with honors for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's success, the skilled actors also received personal awards. Jennifer English was named Outstanding Lead Performance for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Supporting Performance Award for his acting as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Studio of the Year. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team collected seven awards during the show.
Other standout winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which received Outstanding Audio and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Outstanding Independent Game and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only four awards—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—determined by critics.
Here is the complete list of award recipients from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – 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
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the actual ceremony, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 can be viewed online below.
