The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted on Thursday, and with a remarkable performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the top winner. This breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive secured the esteemed Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Enhancing the studio's success, the talented cast also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English won Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Actor for his acting as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers collected 7 awards throughout the show.
Additional notable winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which received Best Audio Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Best PC Game. It is important to note, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the public, with only four categories—Critics’ Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers' Favorite—decided by critics.
Below is the complete list of winners from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lifetime Achievement – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics' Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you who missed the full show, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be viewed online here.
