Clair Obscur Dominates at the 2025 Golden Joystick Ceremony

The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards were hosted on Thursday, and with a remarkable performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. The breakout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive won the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design.

Enhancing the developer's triumph, its skilled performers also were honored with personal awards. Jennifer English was named Top Lead Actor for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Supporting Performance Award for his role as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself received Top Studio. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers collected seven awards throughout the event.

Other standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Top Self-Published Indie and PC Game of the Year. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the gamers, with only 4 categories—Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers' Favorite—decided by reviewers.

Below is the complete list of award recipients from the Golden Joystick Awards 2025:

• Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
• Top Multiplayer Title – Peak
• Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
• Top Indie (Self-Published) – Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Best Indie Game – Blue Prince
• Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
• Best Early Access – REPO
• Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
• Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
• Still Playing (Console/PC) – Minecraft
• Streamers' Pick – Peak
• Best Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
• Rising Star Award – Schedule I
• Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
• Best 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
• Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
• Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
• Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto 6
• Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

If you who missed the actual ceremony, the awards ceremony is available to watch online below.