Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025's Gaming Honors
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards took place on Thursday, and in a stunning show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the biggest winner. This breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive earned the coveted Top Game award, along with honors for Outstanding Narrative and Best Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's success, the talented performers also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English won Outstanding Lead Performance for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Studio of the Year. Overall, Clair Obscur and its developers achieved 7 awards throughout the show.
Other standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Outstanding Audio and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and PC Game of the Year. Worth mentioning, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only 4 awards—Critics Choice, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers’ Choice—decided by reviewers.
Following is the entire list of honorees from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion – 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
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – 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
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the full show, the awards ceremony can be watched through streaming following this article.