Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025 Golden Joystick Ceremony
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards took place this past week, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. The surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the coveted Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Complementing the developer's triumph, its skilled performers also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English received Best Lead Performer for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive the studio was honored as Best Development Team. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team won 7 awards during the event.
Additional notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Outstanding Audio and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Premier PC Title. Worth mentioning, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the public, with only 4 awards—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers’ Choice—decided by critics.
Here is the full list of honorees from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- Best PC Game – 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
If you who missed the live ceremony, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 can be watched online below.
