Expedition 33 Triumphs at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards took place this past week, and with a remarkable performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the biggest winner. The surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the esteemed Game of the Year award, along with prizes for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Adding to the developer's triumph, the skilled actors also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English was named Outstanding Lead Performance for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Actor for his role as Verso. Furthermore, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Top Studio. Overall, Clair Obscur and its developers achieved 7 awards throughout the show.
Other major winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Best Indie Game (Self-Published) and Premier PC Title. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the gamers, with only four categories—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—judged by critics.
Following is the full list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Top Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the live ceremony, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 is available to watch online below.