Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted recently, and with a remarkable performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. The breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the prestigious Top Game award, along with honors for Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Complementing the studio's success, its skilled performers also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English received Best Lead Performer for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Actor for his work as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Top Studio. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team achieved seven awards throughout the show.
Other standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Outstanding Audio and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Best PC Game. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the public, with only 4 special—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers’ Choice—determined by critics.
Here is the entire list of honorees from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – 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 Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – 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 Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – 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
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the full ceremony, the awards ceremony can be watched online below.
