Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025 Golden Joystick Ceremony
The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards were hosted this past week, and with a remarkable show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the most decorated winner. The breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the coveted Top Game award, along with prizes for Best Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's triumph, the talented actors also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Top Studio. Overall, Clair Obscur and its developers achieved seven awards throughout the event.
Additional standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only 4 awards—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers' Favorite—determined by critics.
Here is the full 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
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game 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
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you who missed the full event, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be watched online here.
