Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025 Gaming Honors
The forty-third annual Golden Joystick Awards took place this past week, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the top winner. This standout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the prestigious Top Game award, along with honors for Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Adding to the studio's triumph, its gifted actors also received personal awards. Jennifer English was named Best Lead Performer for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Actor for his role as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive itself received Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers achieved 7 awards throughout the show.
Additional notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which received Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, receiving Outstanding Independent Game and Best PC Game. It is important to note, the bulk of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the audience, with only four categories—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—judged by reviewers.
Here is the full list of honorees from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Top Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Excellence in Sound – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Expansion – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game Self Published – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Top Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough – Schedule I
- Best Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Actor – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Console Game – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the live event, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 can be watched online following this article.
