Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025's Gaming Honors
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded recently, and in a stunning display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. This breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the coveted Top Game award, along with accolades for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Complementing the studio's achievements, its gifted cast also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English was named Best Lead Performer for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his acting as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive the studio was honored as Best Development Team. In total, Clair Obscur and its makers won 7 awards during the event.
Additional major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Outstanding Independent Game and Best PC Game. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the gamers, with only four categories—Critics’ Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—decided by reviewers.
Here is the full list of honorees from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game 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
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the live ceremony, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be watched via video below.
