The 43rd Golden Joystick Awards, held on Thursday, crowned the Golden Joystick Awards 2025. Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominated the evening, picking up several top honours including Ultimate Game of the Year, Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design.
Sandfall’s breakout RPG also earned acting accolades: Jennifer English received Best Lead Performer for her portrayal of Maelle, while Ben Starr took Best Supporting Performer for Verso. Sandfall Interactive was named Studio of the Year. In total, Clair Obscur and its creative team walked away with seven awards.
Other notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which won Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, which claimed Best Indie Game (Self‑Published) and PC Game of the Year. Most categories at the Golden Joysticks are decided by public vote; four categories (Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame and Streamers’ Choice) are selected by critics.
Full list of Golden Joystick Awards 2025 winners
- Best Storytelling — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Audio Design — Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game — Peak
- Best Visual Design — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Expansion — Lies of P: Overture
- Best Indie Game (Self‑Published) — Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Indie Game — Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year — Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game — REPO
- Best Soundtrack — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer — Grand Theft Auto 6 (Trailer 2)
- Still Playing — Mobile — Pokémon Go
- Still Playing — Consoles & PC — Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice — Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster — The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award — Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware — AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation — Arcane (Season 2)
- Best Supporting Performer — Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer — Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame — The Sims
- PC Game of the Year — Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year — 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 missed the live broadcast, watch the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 ceremony below.
Source: Polygon
