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The Golden Joystick Awards 2026 announced its Ultimate Game of the Year nominees on October 26 and opened voting, which runs until October 30 local time. The ceremony is on November 11 local time.
The nominees are 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. Eligible games were released between November 8, 2025 and October 25, 2026 local time. AUTOMATON points out several Japanese titles among the nominees, including two from Capcom, Resident Evil Requiem and PRAGMATA, along with Pokémon Pokopia. Phantom Blade Zero is set for release on October 29.
The Golden Joystick Awards have run in the United Kingdom since 1983, and winners are basically decided by votes from users. AUTOMATON says they are sometimes counted among the "four major GOTY" awards alongside The Game Awards, the D.I.C.E. Awards and the Game Developers Choice Awards. Last year's winner was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
The insider take
With voting closing October 30 and the ceremony on November 11, the shortlist is a first look at this year's end-of-year awards season.
Originally reported by AUTOMATON (Japanese).