Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025's Golden Joystick Awards

The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded on Thursday, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. The standout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the coveted Top Game award, along with accolades for Superb Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.

Complementing the studio's success, its talented cast also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English was named Outstanding Lead Performance for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Supporting Performance Award for his work as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Studio of the Year. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers achieved 7 awards throughout the show.

Other major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and PC Game of the Year. It is important to note, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only 4 special—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers’ Choice—decided by reviewers.

Here is the full list of honorees from the 2025 gaming awards:

• Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Excellence in Sound – 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
• Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
• Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
• Best Early Access – REPO
• Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
• Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
• Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
• Streamers’ Choice – Peak
• Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
• Breakthrough 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
• Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
• Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
• Critics’ Choice Award – 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 awards ceremony can be watched via video following this article.