The Golden Joystick Awards—one of the industry’s longest-running and most influential fan-voted events wrapped up with a night heavily defined by two titles: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Donkey Kong Bananza.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Takes Center Stage
Sandfall Interactive’s surreal, painterly RPG was the undisputed star of the event, securing Ultimate Game of the Yearand sweeping several major creative categories:
Best Storytelling
Best Visual Design
Best Soundtrack
Best Lead Performer (Jennifer English as Maelle)
Best Supporting Performer (Ben Starr as Verso)
The studio itself, Sandfall Interactive, also claimed Studio of the Year—a rare alignment of fan, critic, and industry enthusiasm.
With its unique aesthetic and emotionally charged narrative, Clair Obscur has firmly established itself as 2025’s breakout prestige title.
Donkey Kong Bananza Wins the Critics Over
While fans crowned Clair Obscur, critics had their own favorite. Donkey Kong Bananza secured the Critics’ Choice Award, continuing Nintendo’s renewed momentum heading into the Switch 2 era. Its inventive level design and kinetic gameplay were repeatedly praised throughout the season.
Ghost of Yōtei Becomes a Technical & Console Darling
The atmospheric action-adventure Ghost of Yōtei walked away with two influential awards:
Best Audio Design
Console Game of the Year
Its immersive soundscape and world design have earned it significant attention as a standout console exclusive.
Silksong Finally Takes a Win
After years of anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong delivered when it mattered, winning:
PC Game of the Year
Best Indie Game – Self-published
A major moment for fans who have followed Team Cherry’s long development cycle.
Peak Surprises With Multiplayer Wins
The competitive title Peak continued its rising trajectory by winning:
Best Multiplayer Game
Streamers’ Choice Award
A double-win signaling both broad player appeal and strong streaming-community traction.
Hardware & Adaptation Highlights
Two notable tech and cross-media winners made waves:
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D — Best Gaming Hardware, reflecting its performance dominance.
Arcane Season 2 (Netflix) — Best Game Adaptation, reinforcing the show’s reputation as one of the strongest game-to-screen translations ever produced.
GTA 6 Hype Remains Untouchable
Rockstar’s upcoming open-world giant continues its cultural chokehold:
Most Wanted Game
Best Game Trailer (for Trailer 2)
