Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 didn’t just win big at the Golden Joysticks this year. It absolutely ran the entire show.
The game entered the show as the clear favorite with the most nominations, then pulled off the rare feat of converting every one of them into a win.
By the time the show wrapped, Sandfall Interactive walked back to their seats loaded with trophies, securing a clean sweep that cements Expedition 33 in awards-season history.
Which Awards Did Expedition 33 Bring Home This Year?
Here are all seven awards Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took home:
- Ultimate Game of the Year
- Best Storytelling
- Best Visual Design
- Best Soundtrack
- Studio of the Year (Sandfall Interactive)
- Best Lead Performer (Jennifer English as Maelle)
- Best Supporting Performer (Ben Starr as Verso)
Ultimate Game of the Year sits at the center of that success, as Expedition 33 claimed the top honor ahead of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Hades 2, Hollow Knight Silksong, Ghost of Yōtei, GTA 6, and more.
That win alone would have been a huge story, especially for a brand-new IP from a relatively new studio, but it was only one part of a much bigger haul.
Why Was Clair Obscur Already the Favorite Going Into the Ceremony?
This outcome didn’t appear out of thin air, with pre-show coverage repeatedly pointing out how unexpected it was for a fresh turn-based RPG from France to outpace big-name sequels.
Expedition 33 launched earlier in 2025, but clearly stayed in voters’ minds long after the usual post-release buzz died down.
With the Golden Joysticks being driven mainly by public votes, the sweep becomes even more impressive.
It means the game resonated with players far beyond critical praise. Sandfall’s reaction said everything, with the final acceptance speech showing genuine disbelief at what they had just achieved.
What Happened to the Other Major Contenders This Year?
That win streak hit Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 the hardest, since it came in with strong support and several nominations, but kept clashing with Expedition 33 and ultimately walked out with no wins.
In the categories where Kingdom Come wasn’t up against Clair Obscur, other titles filled the spotlight, with Hollow Knight: Silksong winning PC Game of the Year and GTA 6’s second trailer taking Best Game Trailer.
Ghost of Yōtei put up an impressive performance too, earning Best Audio Design and Console Game of the Year, while the leftover categories were split between several other standout games. Still, none of them reached the level of wins Sandfall secured.
Is There Any Backlash or Criticism Despite the Sweep?
At the same time, a low-key stream of criticism usually follows any game that sweeps its categories.
Some players feel the combat and exploration lose steam towards the final act, or say that the third act feels padded compared to the strong opening two-thirds.
A handful of players admit the timing-heavy battles can feel a bit much, so they switch to an easier setting to enjoy the narrative.
Some are simply tired of hearing about it everywhere, not because they think the game is bad, but because the constant praise makes them less eager to dive in.
This is the typical pattern for any awards-season standout, where the backlash ends up being about hype burnout rather than the actual game.
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