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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Ultimate Game of the Year at the 43rd Golden Joystick Awards, held in London on November 20, 2025. It also won Best Storytelling, Best Visual Design and Best Soundtrack. The results include both public-vote winners and four critically chosen awards, so not every category was decided by a public vote.
Golden Joystick Awards 2025 winners at a glance
MCV/DEVELOP’s November 27 results release lists 26 awards across the public-vote and critically chosen categories. Its account says more than 21 million public votes were cast across 22 categories; that figure does not mean there were only 22 award entries overall.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PS5 | $45.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5) | $41.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - For PS5 | $45.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Clair Obscur Expedition 33 [Korean Edition] for PS5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51aLPXPHeFL._SL160_.jpg)
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Clair Obscur Expedition 33 [Korean Edition] for PS5 | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Monolith Set Collector's Edition | $550.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| Selection method | Category | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Public vote | Best Storytelling | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Public vote | Best Audio Design | Ghost of Yōtei |
| Public vote | Best Multiplayer Game | PEAK |
| Public vote | Best Visual Design | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Public vote | Best Game Expansion | Lies of P: Overture |
| Public vote | Best Indie Game Self Published | Hollow Knight: Silksong |
| Public vote | Best Indie Game | Blue Prince |
| Public vote | Studio of the Year | Sandfall Interactive |
| Public vote | Best Early Access Game | R.E.P.O |
| Public vote | Best Soundtrack | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Public vote | Best Game Trailer | Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2 |
| Public vote | Still Playing – Mobile | Pokémon GO |
| Public vote | Still Playing – Consoles & PC | Minecraft |
| Critically chosen | Streamers’ Choice | PEAK |
| Public vote | Best Remake / Remaster | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered |
| Critically chosen | Breakthrough Award | Schedule I |
| Public vote | Best Gaming Hardware | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D |
| Public vote | Best Game Adaptation | Arcane Season 2 |
| Public vote | Best Supporting Performer | Ben Starr, as Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Public vote | Best Lead Performer | Jennifer English, as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Critically chosen | Hall of Fame | The Sims |
| Public vote | PC Game of the Year | Hollow Knight: Silksong |
| Public vote | Console Game of the Year | Ghost of Yōtei |
| Critically chosen | Critics’ Choice Award | Donkey Kong Bananza |
| Public vote | Most Wanted Game | Grand Theft Auto VI |
| Public vote | Ultimate Game of the Year | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
Source for the complete winners list and selection labels: MCV/DEVELOP, “Winners Announced at the 43rd Golden Joystick Awards”.
How the voting worked
The results release identifies Critics’ Choice, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame and Streamers’ Choice as critically chosen. The other listed categories were public-vote awards. MCV/DEVELOP reports more than 21 million public votes across 22 categories; GamesRadar’s retrospective describes more than 21 million votes cast during October and early November. Those are each outlet’s descriptions of the total, rather than a single precisely scoped count.
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#1 Best Overall
- Reactive Turn-based Combat: Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and &character synergies
- Dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system
- With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, & fellow Expeditioners as they embark on a desperate quest to break Paintress’ cycle of death
- Explore an enchanting realm populated by adversaries; Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack
GamesRadar says the main voting closed October 31, while Ultimate Game of the Year voting ran separately from November 3 through 7. GamesRadar’s award page provides that voting timeline and 2025 retrospective.
What stood out in the 2025 results
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 led the game awards
Sandfall Interactive’s role-playing game won Ultimate Game of the Year, Best Storytelling, Best Visual Design and Best Soundtrack. Sandfall also received Studio of the Year. The game’s performers were recognized separately: Jennifer English won Best Lead Performer for Maelle, while Ben Starr won Best Supporting Performer for Verso.
Rank #2
- Reactive Turn-based Combat - In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Build your party and level up six characters. Craft unique builds for your expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat - dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free-aim system.
- “Tomorrow Comes” - With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.
- A Hauntingly Beautiful World - Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend and recruit a special companion who can access new travel methods and secret areas in the World Map.
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack.
- European/ UK version
Other games won across multiple categories
Ghost of Yōtei won Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year. Hollow Knight: Silksong took Best Indie Game Self Published and PC Game of the Year. PEAK won Best Multiplayer Game by public vote and the critically chosen Streamers’ Choice award. Grand Theft Auto VI won Most Wanted Game, while its second trailer won Best Game Trailer.
The hardware award recognized one specific processor
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D was the public-vote winner for Best Gaming Hardware. That result establishes the award recipient, not its current retail availability, price or value as a purchase.
Rank #3
- Engaging Storyline: Dive into a rich, narrative-driven adventure with unexpected twists.
- Complex Puzzles: Test your problem-solving skills with challenging puzzles.
- Immersive World: Explore a visually stunning alien planet with breathtaking details and treacherous terrain.
Ceremony and edition
The 43rd Golden Joystick Awards ceremony took place in London on November 20, 2025, and was streamed worldwide. Maggie Robertson hosted. The winners were published by MCV/DEVELOP on November 27, 2025.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- COLLECTOR'S EDITION SET: Premium Monolith Set for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 featuring an exclusive collectible statue, expedition journal, and decorative outer box for fans and collectors
- DETAILED MONOLITH STATUE: Intricately designed collectible statue featuring the iconic Expedition 33 monolith with weathered stone textures, gold accents, and atmospheric detailing that captures the game's dark fantasy aesthetic
- EXPEDITION JOURNAL: Exclusive hardcover journal with themed artwork and design elements from the game, perfect for notes, sketches, or as a display piece alongside the statue
- PREMIUM PACKAGING: Comes in a striking collector's box featuring dramatic character artwork with rose petal effects and distressed design elements that reflect the game's mysterious atmosphere
- PERFECT FOR DISPLAY: The monolith statue serves as an impressive centerpiece for any gaming collection or display shelf, celebrating the unique world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Rank #4
- This is KOEAN VERSION released in South Korea. Region Free title so you can play it on your system.
- Language: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
