Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has taken centre stage at the Golden Joystick Awards after securing seven titles including the top honour of Ultimate Game of the Year. The acclaimed role-playing game, created by a core team of around 30 at Sandfall Interactive in France, drew praise for its narrative, combat system and performances.
Guillaume Broche, the studio’s chief executive and creative director, said the success had been overwhelming and thanked both voters and staff as he accepted the main award. The game also earned Best Soundtrack, Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design, while Sandfall Interactive was named Studio of the Year. Performers Jennifer English and Ben Starr won Best Lead Performer and Best Supporting Performer for their roles.
Expedition 33 is expected to feature strongly at next month’s Game Awards after receiving 12 nominations. Meanwhile Grand Theft Auto 6 collected two prizes despite its release being delayed, taking Most Wanted Game and Best Game Trailer.
Elsewhere, Donkey Kong Bananza picked up the Critics Choice award as one of the first major titles for Nintendo’s Switch 2. The Streamers Choice award, presented by YouTuber Elz the Witch, went to Peak.
More than 21 mln votes were cast by the public across 22 categories. Four additional awards were selected by critics including the Hall of Fame, which went to The Sims.
Golden Joystick Awards 2025 winners include:
- 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 – R.E.P.O
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2
- Still Playing (Mobile) – Pokémon GO
- Still Playing (Consoles and PC) – Minecraft
- Streamers Choice – Peak
- Best Remake or 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
- Best Lead Performer – Jennifer English
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Choice – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game – Grand Theft Auto VI
- Ultimate Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Kursiv also reports that EA SPORTS has revealed plans for F1 25, which will now include content covering both the 2025 and 2026 FIA Formula One World Championships.
