The shortlist for 2026’s Golden Joystick Awards is out, including PC Game of the Year, and you can vote now
The 2026 Golden Joystick Awards shortlist has been unveiled, with voting now open through October 23. This year marks the 44th edition of the long-running awards program, which has established itself as one of gaming’s most significant fan-voted honors. The announcement includes nominees for all publicly voted categories, with particular focus on the PC Game of the Year category, which features ten selected titles.
A unique element of this year’s awards is the staggered revelation of nominees. While the shortlists for the standard categories have been released, the nominees for the Ultimate Game of the Year category will remain secret until October 26, when voting for that category opens exclusively. This approach builds anticipation and gives voters a separate decision timeline for the awards’ highest honor.
The Golden Joystick Awards’ longevity speaks to their relevance in the gaming community. The organization has been awarding games since at least 1988, when it was sophisticated enough to recognize platform differences—at that time, separate prizes were given for 8-bit and 16-bit games within each category. This historical context highlights how the awards have evolved with the gaming industry itself, demonstrating their position as a cornerstone of gaming culture and community recognition.