Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards took place on Thursday, and with a remarkable show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the most decorated winner. The breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the prestigious Game of the Year award, along with honors for Best Storytelling and Excellence in Visuals.
Adding to the developer's success, its skilled actors also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Performer for his acting as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself was honored as Best Development Team. In total, Clair Obscur and its makers achieved 7 awards throughout the show.
Additional major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the audience, with only four awards—Critics’ Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamers’ Choice—decided by critics.
Here is the entire list of winners from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Top Indie (Self-Published) – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – 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
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the actual show, the awards ceremony can be viewed through streaming below.
