Expedition 33 Triumphs at the 2025's Golden Joystick Ceremony
The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded recently, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the most decorated winner. The surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive secured the prestigious Top Game award, along with accolades for Best Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Enhancing the studio's achievements, the skilled performers also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English won Best Lead Performer for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Top Studio. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its makers collected 7 awards throughout the show.
Additional notable winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Top Self-Published Indie and Premier PC Title. Worth mentioning, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only four awards—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamer Selection—judged by critics.
Below is the complete list of award recipients from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Top Multiplayer Title – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the actual event, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be viewed online here.
