The Golden Joystick Awards 2026 has officially revealed its 12 nominees for Ultimate Game of the Year, with Forza Horizon 6, Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert and Phantom Blade Zero among the contenders. Public voting opened on October 26 and will remain available until October 30, ahead of the awards ceremony on November 11.
The shortlist was announced by the organizers of the 44th Golden Joystick Awards, bringing together major gaming franchises, independent releases and new intellectual properties. Unlike the ceremony’s other publicly voted categories, Ultimate Game of the Year has a separate voting period to accommodate releases arriving later in the year.
The complete list of 2026 Ultimate Game of the Year nominees includes 007 First Light, Big Walk, CONTROL Resonant, Crimson Desert, Dispatch, Forza Horizon 6, Phantom Blade Zero, Pokémon Pokopia, PRAGMATA, Resident Evil Requiem, STAR WARS: Galactic Racer and The Blood of Dawnwalker.
Forza Horizon 6 represents Microsoft’s Xbox racing franchise among the nominees. The Playground Games title launched on Xbox and PC in May 2026 and is also scheduled to reach PlayStation 5 on January 26, 2027, following the announcement of its confirmed PS5 release date.
Capcom has two games competing for the award, with Resident Evil Requiem and PRAGMATA both securing nominations. Resident Evil Requiem has also remained in the spotlight following details about its upcoming DLC exploring Oswell E. Spencer's story.
Another nominee is Phantom Blade Zero, the action RPG developed by S-Game. The title has received positive early critical attention for its combat and boss encounters, with review scores highlighting its combat and exploration alongside criticism of its storytelling and technical issues. Its nomination comes shortly before its scheduled October 28 release.
The shortlist also features a variety of different gaming experiences, from the cooperative adventure Big Walk and episodic superhero title Dispatch to Pokémon Pokopia, CONTROL Resonant and IO Interactive’s James Bond game 007 First Light.
Ultimate Game of the Year voting is open through the official Golden Joystick Awards website. The deadline is Friday, October 30, at 5 PM Pacific Time, 8 PM Eastern Time or midnight GMT at the start of October 31.
Voting for the other 21 publicly voted categories, including PC Game of the Year, Console Game of the Year and Most Wanted Game, concluded on October 23. The separate Ultimate Game of the Year ballot gives players additional time to consider titles released toward the end of the eligibility period.
Daniel Dawkins, Content Director for Games, Video and Digital Events, said the shortlist brings together games developed by smaller independent teams and major franchises, including Pokémon, Resident Evil, Star Wars and James Bond. He also confirmed that millions of votes had already been submitted across the initial 21 categories.
The organizers additionally announced that actor Alix Wilton Regan, who portrays Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, will host the November 11 ceremony alongside guest presenters from the gaming industry.
The 2026 Golden Joystick Awards will take place at Troxy in London, with the ceremony streamed internationally through YouTube, Twitch, X and participating gaming media channels.
All winners, including the recipient of Ultimate Game of the Year, will be announced during the November 11 event. Last year’s ceremony saw Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 secure seven awards, including the top prize, after the 2025 awards attracted a record 21 million public votes.
