Golden Joystick Awards 2026 GOTY Nominees Revealed

One of the most prestigious award nights, the Golden Joystick Awards, is back in 2026. The 44th edition of the show returns with a stacked line-up, and we already know who’s in the running for the coveted GOTY award.

Game of the Year is as big as it gets. The one release that has stood above all else and is regarded as the best game released in a given year. The 44th Golden Joystick Awards category for Game of the Year is going to be spicy.

Golden Joystick 2026 GOTY Award Won’t Include GTA 6

You can’t look at the awards list without realising Grand Theft Auto 6 isn’t there. There’s a good reason for this, though: The show itself takes place on November 11—eight days before the game is even out—and voting closes even earlier on October 30.

This means GTA 6 doesn’t make the cut, but it will be at The Game Awards 2026, and will more than likely take home the gold next year.

• More Insider Gaming: Grand Theft Auto 6 Review Embargo Date Details

Let’s turn our attention to now, and here’s every game nominated for GOTY:

• 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
• The Blood of Dawnwalker

It’s been a disgustingly great year for games, especially when you consider that Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Ace Combat 8, Gears of War: E-Day, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword all miss out.

Who will win Golden Joysticks GOTY awards for 2026? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.

Written by Andrew Highton Evergreen Editor

Andy is Insider Gaming's Senior Evergreen Editor and has been in the games journalism sphere in one way or another for over 7 years. His video game taste is as…

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