Not that it was unexpected, but Sandfall Interactive’s debut title Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has taken home its first Game of the Year award—the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year title at the 43rd Annual Golden Joystick Awards.
Expedition 33 had received six nominations across multiple headline categories in the iconic show’s 2025 edition, all acknowledging its brilliant development and execution. But the turn-based JRPG styled adventure didn’t just end up being a nominee, as it captured every single award it was nominated for, including Best Storytelling, Best Visual Design, Best Soundtrack, Best Supporting Performer (Ben Starr), and Best Lead Performer (Jennifer English). In fact, Sandfall Interactive also won the Studio of the Year award, taking the total number of wins to seven.
The 2025 Golden Joystick Awards also had special “Game of the Year” categories for PC and console games. Hollow Knight: Silksong won the PC category, while Ghost of Yōtei took away the console fame.
Fans have long expected Expedition 33 to secure multiple awards this season, thanks to its strong critical reception. The game has also received nominations across 12 categories at The Game Awards, the industry’s most prestigious ceremony.
However, sweeping every single one of its nominations at the Golden Joystick Awards—especially against strong contenders like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Hades 2, and Hollow Knight: Silksong—goes far beyond expectations, marking a truly outstanding achievement in gaming history.
As awards season continues, attention now turns to whether Expedition 33 can replicate this success at other major ceremonies later in the year. With momentum building, many are beginning to wonder if it could even match Baldur’s Gate 3’s iconic sweep at The Game Awards in 2023 and beyond.
For now, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands proudly as the first Game of the Year winner, highlighting the Golden Joystick clean sweep for Sandfall Interactive, a landmark moment for both the studio and the wider game development scene.
All Golden Joystick Awards 2025 winners
Here are all of this year’s winners:
- Ultimate Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Studio of the Year: Sandfall Interactive
- Best Soundtrack: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Storytelling: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Visual Design: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Lead Performer: Jennifer English (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Best Supporting Performer: Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- PC Game of the Year: Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year: Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Audio Design: Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Early Access Game: R.E.P.O.
- Best Game Adaptation: Arcane Season 2
- Best Game Expansion: Lies of P: Overture
- Best Game Trailer: Grand Theft Auto Six, Trailer two
- Best Gaming Hardware: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Indie Game: Blue Prince
- Best Indie Game (Self-published): Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Multiplayer Game: PEAK
- Best Remake/Remaster: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Breakthrough Award: Schedule 1
- Critics’ Choice: Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Game: GTA 6 PC
- Still Playing, Mobile: Pokémon Go
- Still Playing, PC & Console: Minecraft
- Streamers’ Choice: PEAK
