Expedition 33 Dominates at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards unfolded recently, and through an impressive performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the title of the biggest winner. This breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the prestigious Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with accolades for Superb Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Enhancing the developer's success, the talented cast also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English was named Outstanding Lead Performance for her portrayal as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself received Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers won seven awards during the show.
Other standout winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and Premier PC Title. Notably, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the gamers, with only four awards—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers’ Choice—judged by critics.
Following is the full list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game 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
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing - Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers' Pick – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- Best PC Game – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top 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 who missed the live ceremony, the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards can be viewed via video below.
