The shortlist for the 44th annual Golden Joystick Awards has been unveiled, featuring the nominees for this year's PC Game of the Year. Voting is now open for the public across multiple categories, with winners set to be announced in November.
The Golden Joystick Awards, a long-standing tradition in gaming, has announced its nominees for 2026. The public can now cast their votes for various categories, including the coveted PC Game of the Year. Nominees for the Ultimate Game of the Year will be revealed later, with voting opening on October 26.
This year's PC Game of the Year nominees are:
- 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
- Valheim
To be eligible for nomination, games had to be released between November 1, 2025, and September 25, 2026. Exceptions were made for pre-release versions that were submitted to judges before the deadline.
In addition to PC Game of the Year, players can vote in categories such as Best Storytelling, Best Multiplayer Game, Best Visual Design, Best Indie Game, and Best Indie Game – Self Published. The full list of categories and voting can be accessed on GamesRadar. Voting will close on October 23 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET / midnight BST. The winners will be celebrated at a ceremony on November 11.