Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025's Gaming Honors
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards were hosted this past week, and in a stunning display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the top winner. This surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the coveted Top Game award, along with prizes for Best Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Enhancing the studio's success, its skilled actors also received personal awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Supporting Performance Award for his role as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Top Studio. In total, Clair Obscur and its developers won seven awards during the ceremony.
Other major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Best Audio Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Top Self-Published Indie and Best PC Game. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the audience, with only four categories—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers' Favorite—determined by reviewers.
Here is the complete list of winners from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best 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 – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – 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
If you missed out on the actual ceremony, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 is available to watch via video here.
