A Night of Triumph for Expedition 33
The UK gaming community has spoken, and its voice resonated powerfully at the 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards in London. The undisputed champion of the evening was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which secured a staggering seven awards, matching the record set by Baldur's Gate 3 in 2023 for the most wins in the event's long history.
Held on November 20, 2025, the ceremony marked the beginning of the gaming awards season. As the longest-running video games award event globally, the Golden Joysticks hold a unique position because the winners are chosen not by a panel of industry experts, but by the public. This year's results suggest that player sentiment and critical acclaim are perfectly aligned.
Sweeping the Board: A Record-Breaking Victory
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 faced fierce competition from a packed shortlist that included heavy-hitters like Death Stranding 2, Hades 2, and the highly anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong. Despite this, the game from developer Sandfall Interactive emerged victorious in the most prestigious category: Ultimate Game of the Year.
Its success, however, did not stop there. The game also claimed top honours for:
- Best Soundtrack
- Best Storytelling
- Best Visual Design
The talent behind the game was also rightly celebrated. Jennifer English, who voices the character Maelle, won Best Lead Performer, while Ben Starr (Verso) took home the award for Best Supporting Performer. Capping off an incredible night, Sandfall Interactive was crowned Studio of the Year.
Other Notable Winners and Standout Moments
While Expedition 33 was the star, other games also enjoyed multiple moments in the spotlight. Ghost Of Yōtei proved its mettle by winning both Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year.
Meanwhile, the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong secured two awards: PC Game of the Year and Best Indie Game – Self-Published. In a curious twist, Blue Prince won the separate category of Best Indie Game, despite many considering the night's big winner, Expedition 33, to be an indie title itself.
Proving that hype knows no release dates, Grand Theft Auto 6 won two awards a full year before its launch: Best Game Trailer and Most Wanted Game. The multiplayer title Peak also doubled its tally with wins for Best Multiplayer Game and the Streamers’ Choice award.
With this historic clean sweep at the Golden Joystick Awards, all eyes are now on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to see if it can replicate this phenomenal success at The Game Awards next month.
