Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted on Thursday, and with a remarkable performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the most decorated winner. The surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's triumph, the skilled actors also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his work as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Top Studio. Overall, Clair Obscur and its creative team won 7 awards throughout the event.
Additional notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and Premier PC Title. Worth mentioning, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only 4 categories—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame, and Streamers’ Choice—judged by reviewers.
Below is the entire list of winners from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Best Storytelling – 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 Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Top 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
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best 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
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those missed out on the full event, the awards ceremony can be watched online below.
