Clair Obscur Sweeps at the 2025's Gaming Honors
The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards took place this past week, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the top winner. This breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the prestigious Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Outstanding Narrative and Best Visual Design.
Enhancing the studio's success, the gifted actors also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Supporting Performance Award for his work as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Best Development Team. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its creative team collected seven awards throughout the event.
Other major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which received Best Audio Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Top Self-Published Indie and Best PC Game. It is important to note, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the gamers, with only 4 categories—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—judged by critics.
Below is the full list of award recipients from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Top Multiplayer Title – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – 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 Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the live event, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be viewed via video here.
