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Golden Joystick Awards 2026 Ultimate GOTY Nominees Announced, Voting Open
The Golden Joystick top prize is decided by user votes, so a ten-title slate this wide is a measure of which releases the voting public actually carried into the fall, and the five-day voting window leaves little room for a late swing.
Reporting from 1 source: Automaton.
Voting is open until October 30 local time for the Golden Joystick Awards 2026, with the Ultimate Game of the Year race led by a ten-title slate. The list runs from 007 First Light and Big Walk through CONTROL Resonant, Crimson Desert, Dispatch, Forza Horizon 6, Phantom Blade Zero, Pokemon Pokopia, PRAGMATA and Resident Evil Requiem. Eligible games shipped between November 8, 2025 and October 25, 2026, and winners are decided mainly by user votes. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took the prize last time.
The Golden Joystick Awards have run in the UK since 1983, and the top prize is decided mainly by user votes. Voting opened the same day the nominees were announced and runs until October 30 local time.
Eligibility was capped at releases between November 8, 2025 and October 25, 2026, which puts the ten Ultimate Game of the Year candidates on one calendar footing. The rest of the slate spans audio design, early access, adaptations, expansions, trailers, hardware, indie and self-published indie, lead and supporting performance, multiplayer, and remake or remaster.
- 007 First Light
- Big Walk
- CONTROL Resonant
- Crimson Desert
- Dispatch
- Forza Horizon 6
- Phantom Blade Zero
- Pokemon Pokopia
- PRAGMATA
- Resident Evil Requiem
Written with AI by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited. See our editorial policy.
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