Clair Obscur Dominates at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded on Thursday, and with a remarkable show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. The standout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the coveted Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Adding to the developer's success, its skilled actors also received personal awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his work as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio was honored as Studio of the Year. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its makers achieved 7 awards during the event.
Additional notable winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Best Audio Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Top Self-Published Indie and Premier PC Title. Worth mentioning, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the public, with only 4 categories—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers' Favorite—judged by critics.
Here is the entire list of award recipients from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Top Multiplayer Title – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – 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
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – 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’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the actual show, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards is available to watch online here.
