Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded on Thursday, and in a stunning display, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the biggest winner. The surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the prestigious Top Game award, along with prizes for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's triumph, the gifted performers also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Best Supporting Actor for his role as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio was honored as Top Studio. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its developers won 7 awards during the event.
Additional major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Outstanding Independent Game and Premier PC Title. It is important to note, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the audience, with only four categories—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers’ Choice—decided by reviewers.
Here is the full list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you who missed the actual show, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 can be viewed online here.
