Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded recently, and with a remarkable performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the top winner. This standout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive secured the prestigious Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with honors for Outstanding Narrative and Best Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's achievements, the gifted performers also received personal awards. Jennifer English won Best Lead Performer for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr earned Best Supporting Performer for his work as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Top Studio. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers collected 7 awards throughout the event.
Additional notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Best PC Game. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the audience, with only 4 categories—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamer Selection—determined by critics.
Below is the complete list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the actual event, the awards ceremony can be watched online below.
