Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. The surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the prestigious Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Outstanding Narrative and Excellence in Visuals.
Enhancing the developer's success, its gifted actors also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English was named Outstanding Lead Performance for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Supporting Performance Award for his acting as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Studio of the Year. Overall, Clair Obscur and its developers won 7 awards during the event.
Other notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Premier PC Title. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the public, with only 4 awards—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—judged by critics.
Following is the complete list of honorees from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – 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
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – 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 Inductee – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top 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 event, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be viewed online following this article.
