Golden Joystick Awards 2025: Full Winners & Highlights

The 43rd Golden Joystick Awards delivered an unforgettable night of celebration, with 21 million votes determining the year's finest games. Hosted by the iconic Lady Dimitrescu (Maggie Robertson), the ceremony honored groundbreaking titles across 26 categories, culminating in the prestigious Ultimate Game of the Year award. Here’s your complete guide to the winners and standout moments from this year’s event.

Key Winners by Category

The competition was fierce, with several games dominating multiple categories. Here are the major winners announced during the ceremony:

Best Storytelling: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive)
Best Audio Design: Ghost of Yotei (Sucker Punch Productions)
Best Multiplayer Game: Peak (Landfall Games)
Best Visual Design: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive)
Best Game Expansion: Lies of P: Overture (Round8 Studio)
Best Indie Game – Self-Published: Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)

Sandfall Interactive accepts the Best Storytelling award for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. - Image from https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.gPw7EgBSPagmmefX7SKq9gHaEK?pid=Api

The Ultimate Game of the Year Showdown

The most coveted award, Ultimate Game of the Year, saw a stacked lineup of nominees, including:

Blue Prince
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Donkey Kong Bananza
Hades 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Split Fiction

While the winner wasn’t explicitly detailed in the live coverage, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as a frontrunner with seven nominations. The ceremony also featured surprise world premieres, including the trailer for Brightfall, slated for a 2026 release.

Star-Studded Presenters & Memorable Moments

The event celebrated gaming’s biggest names, with voice actors and developers taking the stage:

Maggie Robertson (Lady Dimitrescu) hosted with her signature charm.
Ben Starr (Clair Obscur) arrived in a custom Joystick Joker costume.
Doug Cockle (Geralt in The Witcher) celebrated the franchise’s 10th anniversary.
Samantha Béart (Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3) presented awards with infectious energy.

Acceptance speeches blended heartfelt gratitude with humor—Landfall Games credited their success to avoiding task-tracking software, while Lies of P: Overture’s team teased future projects mid-speech.

How to Watch & Community Events

The ceremony was broadcast globally across YouTube, Twitch, Steam, Facebook, TikTok, and X, ensuring gamers worldwide could join the festivities. For those seeking a communal experience, venues like The Pixel Lab in Jersey City hosted viewing parties with Mario Kart tournaments, cash prizes, and live reactions.

Competitors battle it out during the Golden Joystick Awards viewing party in Jersey City. - Image from https://duckduckgo.com/?origin=funnel_home_website&t=h_&q=Mario+Kart+tournament+at+The+Pixel+Lab+viewing+party&ia=images&iax=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.stayhappening.com%2Fevents10%2Fbanners%2F73a7f2a8493eb0ea74ee10f615226186ff6349b34a248a820128b792a7e604c0-rimg-w1200-h600-dc161416-gmir.jpg%3Fv%3D1762588327

At The Pixel Lab, doors opened at 3 PM for early gaming, followed by the awards replay at 6:30 PM. The event culminated in a tournament finale at 8:45 PM, blending competitive play with community camaraderie.

What’s Next for Gaming?

The Golden Joystick Awards 2025 highlighted industry trends: indie games (Hollow Knight: Silksong) rivaling AAA titles (Ghost of Yotei), and immersive storytelling taking center stage. With surprises like Brightfall’s debut, the ceremony underscored gaming’s evolving landscape. As we look ahead, these winners set new benchmarks for innovation and creativity.

For a full list of winners, revisit the official coverage or stay tuned for next year’s ceremony—a milestone moment for gamers worldwide.