Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards took place this past week, and with a remarkable display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. This breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with honors for Superb Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Enhancing the studio's triumph, its talented performers also received individual awards. Jennifer English was named Top Lead Actor for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his work as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its developers collected seven awards throughout the ceremony.
Additional notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Outstanding Independent Game and PC Game of the Year. Worth mentioning, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the gamers, with only four special—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamer Selection—decided by critics.
Below is the complete list of award recipients from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best 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
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the actual show, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be watched through streaming following this article.
