Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025's Gaming Honors
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted this past week, and with a remarkable display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the top winner. This breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the coveted Top Game award, along with honors for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Enhancing the studio's triumph, its skilled actors also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English won Outstanding Lead Performance for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers collected seven awards during the show.
Other major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Outstanding Audio and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Premier PC Title. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only four categories—Critics Choice, Breakthrough, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers' Favorite—judged by experts.
Here is the full list of honorees from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Top Multiplayer Title – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Top 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’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Top PC Title – 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
If you who missed the full show, the awards ceremony can be watched via video here.
