Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025's Gaming Honors
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted on Thursday, and in a stunning performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. The surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the prestigious Top Game award, along with accolades for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Complementing the studio's triumph, the gifted actors also received individual awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Performer for his work as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself received Top Studio. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers won 7 awards throughout the show.
Other major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Top Self-Published Indie and PC Game of the Year. Worth mentioning, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only four categories—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamer Selection—determined by reviewers.
Below is the full list of winners from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – 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
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Top Remake – 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
- 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 Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the live event, the awards ceremony is available to watch through streaming following this article.
