Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded recently, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the most decorated winner. This surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the esteemed Top Game award, along with accolades for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Complementing the developer's success, its skilled actors also received individual awards. Jennifer English received Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Supporting Performance Award for his work as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Studio of the Year. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers achieved 7 awards during the event.
Other major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the audience, with only four awards—Critics’ Choice, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers' Favorite—determined by experts.
Here is the entire list of honorees from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the actual ceremony, the awards ceremony can be watched through streaming below.