Clair Obscur Sweeps at the 2025's Golden Joystick Awards
The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards were hosted recently, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the biggest winner. The breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the coveted Top Game award, along with prizes for Best Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Enhancing the developer's triumph, the gifted actors also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Top Studio. Overall, Clair Obscur and its developers achieved seven awards during the show.
Other standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Top Self-Published Indie and Premier PC Title. Notably, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the gamers, with only 4 special—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers' Favorite—judged by experts.
Below is the entire list of honorees from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Top Multiplayer Title – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Top Indie (Self-Published) – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the full event, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 can be viewed via video here.
