The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and through an impressive display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the most decorated winner. The breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the esteemed Top Game award, along with accolades for Superb Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Enhancing the studio's achievements, the gifted cast also received individual awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Best Supporting Performer for his acting as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself received Best Development Team. In total, Clair Obscur and its makers collected seven awards during the show.
Other major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Top Self-Published Indie and Premier PC Title. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the audience, with only 4 awards—Critics Choice, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers' Favorite—determined by reviewers.
Below is the full list of honorees from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you who missed the full show, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be viewed via video here.
