Vote now for the 2026 Golden Joystick shortlist
The Golden Joystick Awards continue to serve as a vibrant barometer of gaming excellence, a tradition stretching back decades. While the awards have evolved—once recognizing separate titles for 8-bit and 16-bit masterpieces—they remain the definitive celebration of what makes games truly great.
The anticipation is building for the 44th annual ceremony, as the shortlist of nominees for this year’s publicly voted categories has been announced. The focus this year is particularly sharp on the rapidly evolving landscape of PC gaming, which has seen a surge of ambitious and innovative titles vying for top honors.
Among the celebrated contenders for the coveted PC Game of the Year nominations are ten powerhouse titles, each representing a distinct style of gameplay and narrative. These nominees demonstrate the incredible diversity within the modern gaming sphere, ranging from immersive survival experiences to intricate story-driven adventures.
The list of nominees includes titles such as Big Walk, Crimson Desert, Escape from Tarkov, Esoteric Ebb, Meccha Chameleon, Mewgenics, Order of the Sinking Star, Star War Zero Company, The Blood of Dawnwalker, and Valheim.
These games qualify by releasing between November 1, 2025, and September 25, 2026, allowing the community to weigh in on the future of PC gaming. Beyond the big prizes, voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots across a range of other highly competitive categories, including Best Storytelling, Best Multiplayer Game, Best Visual Design, Best Indie Game, and Best Indie Game – Self Published.
If you want to participate in crowning the champions, the voting window is now open. Fans can weigh in on these nominees, and other exciting titles, across the various awards. Voting concludes on October 23 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET / midnight BST, with the winners set to be revealed at the ceremony on November 11.
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