Clair Obscur Sweeps at the 2025 Gaming Honors

The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards unfolded this past week, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned the most decorated winner. This surprise role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive won the coveted Game of the Year award, along with honors for Best Storytelling and Top Visual Design.

Adding to the studio's success, the gifted cast also were honored with individual awards. Jennifer English won Outstanding Lead Performance for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr took home Best Supporting Performer for his acting as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive itself was named Best Development Team. Altogether, Clair Obscur and its makers won seven awards during the show.

Additional major winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Outstanding Independent Game and Best PC Game. Worth mentioning, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are selected by the public, with only 4 awards—Critics' Pick, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamer Selection—decided by critics.

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

  • Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
  • Excellence in Sound – Ghost of YĹŤtei
  • Top Multiplayer Title – Peak
  • Best Visuals – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
  • Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
  • Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
  • Best Independent Game – Blue Prince
  • Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
  • Best Early Access Game – REPO
  • Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
  • Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
  • Still Playing (Mobile) – PokĂ©mon Go
  • Still Playing - Consoles & PC – Minecraft
  • Streamers’ Choice – Peak
  • Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
  • Rising Star Award – Schedule I
  • Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
  • Top Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
  • Supporting Performance Award – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
  • Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
  • Hall of Fame Inductee – The Sims
  • Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
  • Top Console Game – Ghost of YĹŤtei
  • Critics’ Choice Award – Donkey Kong Bananza
  • Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
  • Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

For those missed out on the actual event, the awards ceremony can be watched online below.

Shaun Dalton
Shaun Dalton

Elara is a seasoned gaming enthusiast with over a decade of experience in online slots, sharing strategies and reviews to help players win big.