The organizers of the 44th annual Golden Joystick Awards 2026 have presented the list of contenders for the "Ultimate Game of the Year" title. The winners will traditionally be chosen by the players, and voting will last until 01:59 on October 31, EET, on the official website of the awards — goldenjoysticks.com.
The list of 12 nominees, from which players must choose their top three, includes:
One of the main missing projects on the list is Grand Theft Auto 6. The game's release is scheduled for November 19, which falls outside the official eligibility window that ran from November 8, 2025, to October 25, 2026. Because of this, the game will most likely only be able to participate in the 2027 awards. For the same reason, other highly anticipated releases such as Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Ace Combat 8, Gears of War: E-Day, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword did not make the list. The indie game Mina the Hollower is also not represented in the main nomination and will only compete in the category for best independent projects.
Special attention was drawn to the appearance of Phantom Blade Zero on the list. Its release will take place on October 29. This is four days after the eligibility window closed (October 25). The organizers made an exception according to their rules, as the judging panel had enough time to play early review copies. However, players who purchase the game at release will have only one day to familiarize themselves with it before voting closes.
Voting for the "Ultimate Game of the Year" is the final open stage after voting in 21 other categories closed on October 23. Participation in the selection is free, and each participant can receive a free e-book worth up to $18.99 after registering their vote (options include The History of Videogames and Ultimate Guide to Roblox).
The winners in all categories will be announced on November 11 during a live award ceremony at the Troxy in London.
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