Clair Obscur Dominates at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted recently, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the most decorated winner. This breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the esteemed Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Outstanding Narrative and Best Visual Design.
Complementing the developer's success, the gifted performers also received individual awards. Jennifer English won Best Lead Performer for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Supporting Performance Award for his acting as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive the studio was honored as Top Studio. In total, Clair Obscur and its makers won seven awards during the show.
Additional major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which received Best Audio Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Outstanding Independent Game and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the audience, with only 4 special—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers' Favorite—judged by reviewers.
Below is the full list of winners from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the actual show, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards is available to watch online here.
