The 2026 Game Awards will take place on 10 December, with six nominees expected in the Game of the Year category. Grand Theft Auto 6 appears destined to dominate the conversation, but its eligibility depends on releasing no later than one day before the awards deadline. A late launch could also leave the jury with too little time to play it.
The voting panel consists of international games media, with fan voting contributing 10%. Historically, highly rated games above 90 on Metacritic tend to perform best. Action adventures, role-playing games and narrative-led single-player experiences are favoured, while indie and multiplayer titles face a tougher path.
This ranking considers games already released or made available for review. It will change as the year continues, with upcoming releases and less obvious candidates still capable of reshaping the race. For more gaming coverage, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog.
1. Resident Evil Requiem
Why it could win: Capcom’s horror series has earned three Game of the Year nominations since 2019, alongside recognition in numerous other categories. Resident Evil Requiem combines the appeal of the recent remakes with the freshness of a new instalment, blending their gameplay approaches into a polished, thrilling and accessible package with broad international appeal.
Weaknesses: Its reception has been very positive, but not quite as strong as a typical winner. Scores in the high 80s on Metacritic and OpenCritic leave it vulnerable if the rest of the field is exceptional.
Momentum: It has slipped from the top of the critics’ yearly rankings, yet its mainstream appeal and award-friendly genre keep it in front for now.
2. Big Walk
Why it could win: House House’s cooperative puzzle adventure currently holds a 92 Metacritic score, the highest among these leading candidates. The studio’s Untitled Goose Game was a dark-horse contender in 2019 and won the overall DICE award. Cooperative games have also succeeded before, including 2021 winner It Takes Two. Big Walk is polished, cleverly designed and well suited to shared play.
Weaknesses: It is best experienced online with friends, requiring both time and social planning from voters. Another indie cooperative title, Orbitals, may also draw attention, particularly because it supports local co-op.
Momentum: Strong sales and an enthusiastic post-launch response make it the leading indie contender at present.
3. Crimson Desert
Why it could win: Pearl Abyss delivers a large-scale action RPG with extensive variety and impressive technical polish. Its global sales and passionate “outsider AAA” following echo the paths taken by Black Myth: Wukong in 2024 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 in 2025.
Weaknesses: A 77 Metascore is a major obstacle. No game below 80 has previously received a Game of the Year nomination, and critics have particularly questioned its story and game design—areas the jury values highly.
Momentum: Despite its critical reception, ongoing updates from Pearl Abyss are creating a No Man’s Sky-style comeback narrative. It remains surprisingly resilient.
4. Pokémon Pokopia
Why it could win: Pokémon Pokopia has generated an unusually warm response, combining nostalgia with the surprise of an exceptionally strong spin-off. Its most important advantage may simply be how positively it makes players feel.
Weaknesses: No Pokémon game has ever received a Game of the Year nomination. The life-simulation genre is not a traditional jury favourite, and the game’s indirect storytelling may limit its appeal with voters seeking a more conventional narrative.
Momentum: It remains an unconventional choice, but its reputation is holding firm and it is helping drive sales of Switch 2 consoles.
5. Mina the Hollower
Why it could win: Yacht Club Games’ follow-up to the Shovel Knight series has received universal critical acclaim. Its design, story and mysterious atmosphere draw intelligently on touchstones such as The Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls.
Weaknesses: Its difficulty may prevent some jury members from spending enough time with it. The carefully executed retro visual style is also less commonly rewarded at the Game Awards.
Momentum: Critics continue to admire it, but it has not connected with as broad a player base as Big Walk. Its nomination chances are beginning to fade.
6. 007 First Light
Why it could win: IO Interactive’s first James Bond game has made a confident debut, earning an 87 Metascore. Its cinematic action-adventure structure suits the jury, while the developer’s trademark social-stealth mechanics add extra identity.
Weaknesses: Licensed games are rarely nominated for Game of the Year, and some reviewers found the move towards a more commercial style less convincing. It could also be overshadowed by Marvel’s Wolverine.
Momentum: It has moved ahead of action contenders including Pragmata and Saros, although its final position will depend heavily on player response.
GOTY 2026 dark horses
- Pragmata: Capcom’s old-school science-fiction action game has goodwill behind it and sufficiently inventive gameplay to attract attention.
- Forza Horizon 6: No racing game has ever been nominated, but Playground Games’ emotionally rich Japanese setting could give this sequel the strongest chance yet.
- Saros: Housemarque’s demanding action games are respected by critics, and this entry presents clearer storytelling, although it has generated limited discussion.
- Mixtape: The heartfelt indie has excellent production values and could still find vocal supporters among voters despite damaging online discourse.
- Mewgenics: Edmund McMillen’s cat-breeding tactics game has performed strongly on Steam and with critics. Upcoming console versions may broaden its reach.
Upcoming Game of the Year contenders
- Grand Theft Auto 6: The presumptive favourite, provided it meets its release date only days before the eligibility deadline.
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Remakes rarely receive this recognition, but Nintendo’s lavish reworking of a widely acclaimed classic could be an exception.
- Control Resonant: Remedy combines blockbuster production with strong critical credibility, following the jury’s support for Alan Wake 2 and the reputation of Control.
- The Blood of Dawnwalker: Former Witcher 3 developers are pursuing a story-focused dark-fantasy RPG in the outsider-AAA tradition.
- Marvel’s Wolverine: Although licensed properties face an uphill battle, Insomniac’s assured storytelling and spectacular production could overcome it.
Other possible contenders include Slay the Spire 2, if it leaves early access this year, along with Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Orbitals, The Duskbloods, Phantom Blade: Zero and Gears of War: E-day.
The awards race will be shaped by critical scores, player enthusiasm, release timing and the jury’s preference for polished, narrative-driven adventures. That leaves room for a familiar blockbuster to lead—or for a smaller, more distinctive game to make the decisive breakthrough.
For readers building a home gaming setup around modern and classic play, RETROCADE’s Arcade Machine Buying Guide covers the key choices, while arcade machines and bartop arcades offer different ways to bring gaming into an Australian home.
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