A Longstanding Gaming Tradition
The Golden Joystick Awards boast a rich history, dating back to an era when distinct accolades were given for 8-bit and 16-bit titles. For instance, in 1988, the honors for Computer Game of the Year were split between the rail shooter Operation Wolf (8-bit) and the futuristic sports game Speedball (16-bit).
2026 Nominations and Categories
The organizers have officially released the shortlist for the 44th edition of this prestigious event. While the highly anticipated category for the Ultimate Game of the Year is scheduled to be revealed on October 26, fans can already begin casting their votes for other major segments, including the PC Game of the Year.
To be eligible for consideration this year, titles were required to have a release date falling between November 1, 2025, and September 25, 2026. If a game had not yet officially launched, developers could submit pre-release versions to the panel of judges prior to the cutoff date.
Key Categories for Participation
Gamers are invited to participate in the selection process across several popular categories, such as:
- Best Storytelling
- Best Multiplayer Game
- Best Visual Design
- Best Indie Game
- Best Indie Game – Self Published
How to Vote
Interested voters can head over to GamesRadar to submit their choices. It is important to note that the voting window closes on October 23 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET / midnight BST. The final results and winners will be celebrated during the official award ceremony on November 11.