Clair Obscur Dominates at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards took place this past week, and with a remarkable display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. This standout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Top Game award, along with honors for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's success, the gifted cast also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English was named Best Lead Performer for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Performer for his acting as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers won seven awards during the show.
Additional standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Outstanding Independent Game and PC Game of the Year. Worth mentioning, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only four special—Critics Choice, Breakthrough, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers' Favorite—determined by critics.
Here is the full list of winners from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – 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’ 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
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the full event, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be watched via video below.
