🔗 Share this article

The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards were hosted this past week, and with a remarkable show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the biggest winner. The breakout role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive secured the esteemed Game of the Year award, along with honors for Superb Storytelling and Top Visual Design.

Adding to the studio's achievements, the gifted cast also garnered individual awards. Jennifer English was named Outstanding Lead Performance for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Actor for his acting as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Best Development Team. In total, Clair Obscur and its makers won seven awards throughout the show.

Additional standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and PC Game of the Year. Worth mentioning, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the public, with only four categories—Critics' Pick, Breakthrough, Lifetime Achievement, and Streamers’ Choice—determined by experts.

Here is the entire list of award recipients from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:

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

If you missed out on the full event, the awards ceremony can be viewed online here.