Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards took place on Thursday, and in a stunning display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the top winner. This surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the coveted Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Best Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's triumph, the gifted cast also received individual awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive the studio was honored as Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its creative team won seven awards throughout the ceremony.
Other major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Top Self-Published Indie and Best PC Game. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the public, with only four categories—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—determined by experts.
Below is the complete list of award recipients from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – 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
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you who missed the live show, the awards ceremony can be viewed through streaming below.
