The Golden Joystick Awards are back for their 44th edition — and the first awards show of the season has revealed its full list of nominees. Voting is open to the public right now, and the ceremony takes place on November 11 at the Troxy in London’s East End, streamed live online.
How to Vote
Public voting runs until October 23 on GamesRadar’s official awards page, where you’ll find a “Start Voting” box to work through the categories. Ultimate Game of the Year is handled separately: its nominees will be announced on October 26, with voting open October 26-30. Last year’s show saw Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 pull off a spectacular sweep — and this year’s host hasn’t been announced yet, after Maggie Robertson (Resident Evil Village’s Lady Dimitrescu) held the mic in 2025.
The Headline Categories
Console Game of the Year is a packed field: Resident Evil Requiem (which recently crossed $500 million), Pragmata, Pokémon Pokopia, 007 First Light, Forza Horizon 6, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (our review called it a massive, worthwhile follow-up), Onimusha: Way of the Sword, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Saros, and Nioh 3.
PC Game of the Year nominees include Big Walk, Escape from Tarkov, Valheim, Star Wars Zero Company, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Esoteric Ebb, Mewgenics, Meccha Chameleon, Crimson Desert, and Order of the Sinking Star. Most Wanted is stacked with the industry’s future: The Witcher 4, God of War Laufey, Kingdom Hearts IV, Persona 6, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Alien: Isolation 2, Metro 2039, Total War: Warhammer 40,000 and more.
In the craft categories, Best Remake/Remaster includes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered (out now, with every copy upgrading for free) and the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2. Best Lead Performer features Liam McIntyre as Wolverine in Marvel’s Wolverine (Insomniac’s 18-rated adventure), Patrick Gibson as James Bond in 007 First Light, and Aaron Paul in Dispatch. Best Supporting Performer pits Troy Baker (Marvel’s Wolverine) and Terry O’Quinn (Silent Hill: Townfall) against Frankie Kevich for Control Resonant — Remedy’s bigger, weirder sequel, itself a Best Visual Design nominee. And Studio of the Year has Capcom, House House, IO Interactive, Nintendo EPD, Frogwares, and Square Enix all in the running.
Unlike The Game Awards, trailers aren’t the focal point here — the night is largely devoted to doling out awards and celebrating the industry’s best, a tradition that stretches all the way back to 1983.