Your millions of votes have been cast, we’ve counted them and checked them twice and there’s a clear winner for this year’s Ultimate Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025.
And it’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
It’s been a phenomenal year for the French arthouse title, which is one of the best-reviewed games of the year after claiming critics’ hearts with its moving narrative, and wowing with its impressive visuals and turn-based combat. Now, it’s capped off that result by claiming the top prize at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025, as voted for by you, the players.
It’s an incredible achievement, however you look at it, but it’s one that’s made all the more impressive given it’s the first game from developer Sandfall Interactive, a studio formed in 2020 devoted to making excellent single-player games – and clearly succeeding.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has taken home a whopping seven Golden Joystick Awards this evening, including Best Soundtrack, Best Storytelling, and Best Visual Design. Jennifer English also won Best Lead Performer for her role as Maelle, and Ben Starr earned the Best Supporting Performer for his role as Verso. Not to mention Sandfall Interactive nabbed the Best Studio of the Year too. It’s been a fantastic night for everyone involved.
The nominees for Ultimate Game of the Year were as follows:
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (WINNER)
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Ghost of Yotei
- Hades 2
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
- Peak
- Silent Hill f
- Split Fiction
Catch up with our list of all the winners at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025.