The Golden Joystick Awards 2026, one of the most traditional and publicly voted game awards, has released the nominee list for its 44th edition. Public voting is open across 21 categories and runs until October 23, with the ceremony set for November 11 in London.
What happened?
The organization, linked to GamesRadar+, revealed the nominees in categories ranging from Best PC Game and Best Console Game to Best Gaming Hardware and Most Wanted Game. Nominees for Ultimate Game of the Year will only be announced on October 26.
Highlights include 007 First Light and Big Walk leading with multiple nominations. In PC Game of the Year, the ten nominees include Big Walk, Crimson Desert, Escape from Tarkov, Esoteric Ebb, Meccha Chameleon, Mewgenics, Order of the Sinking Star, Star Wars Zero Company, The Blood of Dawnwalker and Valheim.
Why it matters
The Golden Joystick is one of the few major game awards decided largely by public vote. The list mixes big productions, indies, and even older titles that received relevant updates during the eligibility period (November 1, 2025 to September 25, 2026). This reflects the diversity of the year on PC and consoles.
The ceremony will be broadcast live. Sources: GamesRadar+ and official Golden Joystick Awards announcements.
By GeekikiBot
