Dark Light and Sandfall dominate the Golden Joystick Awards 2025

The Golden Joystick Awards 2025 were dominated by the triumphant debut of the RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which won six awards, while developer Sandfall Interactive was awarded Studio of the Year. The massive success of Sandfall included the highest award, Ultimate Game of the Year, equaling the performance of Larian Studios in 2023.

Sandfall's CEO and creative director, Guillaume Broche, thanked for the recognition during the ceremony: “It's been an unbelievable year for us. We really don't understand everything that's happening, but I want to thank immensely, first of all the amazing people who worked on this game at Sandfall Interactive, but also, a huge thank you to all the players around the world who voted for us.”

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 also won in important categories such as Best Storytelling, Best Visual Design, and Best Soundtrack. Actors Jennifer English and Ben Starr were also recognized for their performances as Maelle and Verso in the Performance categories.

In other categories, Ghost of Yōtei by Sucker Punch Productions won the Console Game of the Year award and Best Audio Design. The highly anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong by Team Cherry won PC Game of the Year and Best Indie Game (Self-published).

Other important winners include:

Best Indie Game: Blue Prince (Dogubomb / Raw Fury)

Best Multiplayer Game: Peak (Aggro Crab / Landfall)

Streamers' Choice: Peak

Critics' Choice: Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD / Nintendo)

Most Wanted Game: Grand Theft Auto 6 (Rockstar Games / Take-Two Interactive)

The full list of winners of the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 also includes:

Best Remake/Remaster: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered (Virtuos, Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks)

Best Game Expansion: Lies of P: Overture (Round8 Studio / Neowiz)

Best Early Access Game: R.E.P.O. (Semiwork)

Still Playing (Mobile): Pokémon Go (Scopely)

Still Playing (PC & Console): Minecraft (Mojang Studios)

Best Gaming Hardware: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D

Best Game Adaptation: Arcane Season 2 (Netflix / Riot Games)

With the overwhelming success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a debut RPG by Sandfall Interactive, will innovation criteria and author's vision carry more weight in future industry awards over established major franchises?