The 44th Golden Joystick Awards have revealed the nominees for the Ultimate Game of the Year award. The public vote is live now at goldenjoysticks.com and will remain open until 5pm PT / 8pm ET / midnight GMT on Friday, October 30, 2026. The nominees will be competing for the most-coveted award, which offers a fascinating cross-section of the industry in 2026, with the work of small teams of indie developers sitting shoulder to shoulder with titanic gaming franchises like Pokémon and Resident Evil, as well as huge IPs like STAR WARS and James Bond. The Golden Joystick Awards are the only games awards show chosen by the players. Alix Wilton Regan, actor and show host, will host the awards on November 11 alongside guest presenters from the world of gaming. Daniel Dawkins, Content Director - Games, Video and Digital Events, commented: “With millions of votes cast across our initial 21 categories, it’s now time to reveal who is in the running for our most-coveted award, Ultimate Game of the Year. The winners will be revealed in a celebration of games in London and live-streamed globally on all major streaming platforms on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Viewers can watch the ceremony live via YouTube, Twitch and X as well as Future Games Show, GamesRadar+ and PC Gamer. For more information visit Golden Joystick Awards 2026 or follow us on Instagram, X and Facebook #GoldenJoystickAwards.