Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025 Golden Joystick Ceremony
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted this past week, and with a remarkable show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the most decorated winner. The surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Top Game award, along with honors for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Enhancing the studio's triumph, its skilled performers also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Best Supporting Actor for his acting as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Studio of the Year. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team won 7 awards throughout the ceremony.
Other notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only 4 awards—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—decided by critics.
Here is the complete list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Top Indie (Self-Published) – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the full show, the awards ceremony can be viewed through streaming below.
