Clair Obscur Sweeps at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards took place on Thursday, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the biggest winner. The breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Best Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's achievements, the skilled cast also received personal awards. Jennifer English was named Top Lead Actor for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his acting as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Top Studio. In total, Clair Obscur and its developers achieved seven awards during the event.
Other notable winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Top Self-Published Indie and Best PC Game. Worth mentioning, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only four awards—Critics’ Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamers’ Choice—judged by critics.
Below is the entire list of honorees from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Top Multiplayer Title – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – 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 Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the live ceremony, the awards ceremony is available to watch via video below.