Clair Obscur Dominates at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded recently, and with a remarkable performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the top winner. This surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the coveted Top Game award, along with honors for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the studio's achievements, the talented actors also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English won Best Lead Performer for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Supporting Performance Award for his work as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Studio of the Year. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers achieved seven awards during the show.
Additional notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Best PC Game. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only 4 categories—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers' Favorite—decided by critics.
Below is the entire list of award recipients from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – 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
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the live event, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be viewed via video here.
