It's far too early for this topic, but I don't care.
Enough highly rated games are now out, I figured we may as well start talking about GotY in various categories.
This is a spot to start discussing and predicting possible Game of the Year winners, including games not out or announced yet. Plus other awards, nominations, sub-genre winners, etc. Also feel free to mention your personal GotY (so far or predicted). We can update as the year continues.
Metacritic isn't everything, but just for reference, here are the score 86+ 2026 games on metacritic currently which have at least 25 reviews (updated April 19):
Pokopia - 89
Resident Evil Requiem - 89
Mewgenics - 88
Nioh 3 - 86
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection - 86
PRAGMATA - 86
Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park - 86
Cairn - 86
So we have an indie, resident evil, and the highest reviewed Pokemon game ever at the top.
Nothing really has been GotY yet for me. Mostly been playing older games in my Backlog like Forza Horizon 2, and Echoes of Wisdom and playing Switch ports of older games like Disney Afternoon Collection. But so far its been a quiet year for me
RetiredPush Square Moderator and all around retro gamer.
Since Pokémon Winds and Waves is 2027 now, assuming that the next mainline Neptunia does release in Japan by the end of Fall 2026 like it's currently supposed to, that's probably going to win, even if it doesn't make it to the US until 2027.
My current prediction for Game Awards GotY nominees is:
GTA6
RE9
Wolverine
Control Resonant
An indie game (Mina the Hollower perhaps?)
Phantom Blade 0 or Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave
In terms of Nintendo's 1st party lineup, I think the new games releasing in 2026 are all announced (with Splatoon Raiders also turning out to be a 2026 release). Sure it'll be supported with remasters/remakes and DLC but I think the big Mario push will be Mario Kart World rather than 3D Mario.
Could you imagine the sheer chaos that would ensue if Mario won over GTA! Unlikely of course, but still.
That would be very funny, but western AAA devs are on such a semi-regular losing streak it feels completely possible. Probably less possible because GTA 6 has to a great game to justify getting people into a new GTA online, but still, weirder things have happened.
I'm predicting that my personal new GOTY winner will be Deltarune Chapter 5. Even if there were other games I was interested in coming out later this year, it would probably still win. Silksong will probably end up being my Backlog GOTY, though it's possible something better comes up.
Unless it's delayed again, GTA6 will definitely win The Game Awards, even if better games do release throughout the year. If Pokopia is nominated for Game of the Year, the TGA Orchestra is going to be hilarious going from probably 5 extremely dramatic songs to a goofy rendition of the Pokemon theme.
As for what I'm expecting from Nintendo, I think they have 2-3 full games yet unannounced, and probably a few more Switch 2 Editions. For the unannounced games, I think we'll get a 3DS Kirby port/remake, a Zelda port/remake (I'm leaning towards it being TPHD, though I would much prefer OoT Remake), and then either Super Mario Maker 3 or Luigi's Mansion 4. OoT Remake, SMM3, and LM4 could all be in the running for GOTY. I feel like Splatoon Raiders is going to capitalize on a unique gameplay loop, so people will either love it or hate it. Depending on the outcome, it may or may not end up a contender.
"well it appears I am upside down. what ever will I do?"
Currently Playing: Pokémon Shield, Celeste, Deltarune Nintendo Switch 2 Username: Owlex
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Thankfully this year I'll actually play more than one game the year it releases, even if most of them have no chance on most people's GOTY probably. (I think Mina has the biggest chance by some distance, though I'd love to see Rhythm Heaven finally get the respect it deserves)
We have a new contender at least for top Metacritic although we'll see if Mina keeps the lead or not.
Metacritic 85+ with at least 25 reviews:
Mina the Hollower - 92
Forza Horizon 6 - 91
Pokopia - 89
Resident Evil Requiem - 89
Mewgenics - 88
007 First Light - 87
SAROS - 87
Nioh 3 - 86
Mixtape - 86
OPUS: Prism Peak - 86
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection - 86
Cairn - 86
Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park - 85
Esoteric Ebb - 85
PRAGMATA - 85
For me personally, I haven't bought too many 2026 games. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a possible contender out of few options but I suspect my GotY will be something I haven't played yet (possibly something not announced yet).
For the last 11 years in a row, the winner of Game of the Year at The Game Awards has been a game with at least a MetaCritic score of "89" on at least one platform, and at least 50 reviews on at least one platform. The reason for this, is that they are voted on largely by the video game reviewers themselves (if they haven't reviewed it, then they ain't voting for it!).
Using that criteria (and filtering out re-releases, remakes, remasters and DLC), the current pool of contenders to win the big prize are:
Forza Horizon 6
Mina the Hollower
Pokemon Pokopia
Resident Evil Requiem
You don't have to be on that list to be one of the 6 games nominated, but you do to win it.
Usually not a category that gets nominated for anything, but Psyvariar 3 is looking like the best shmup of the year thus far. No doubt it'll be lost in shuffle come award time.
Switch Physical Collection - 1,587 games (as of June 1st, 2026)
Switch 2 Physical Collection - 4 games (as of December 8th, 2025)
Usually not a category that gets nominated for anything, but Psyvariar 3 is looking like the best shmup of the year thus far. No doubt it'll be lost in shuffle come award time.
I feel confident in saying that the only shmup from this century most reviewers have played are from Treasure, if even that (which is funny considering how widely popular and beloved Undertale and Nier:Automata are)
I feel confident in saying that the only shmup from this century most reviewers have played are from Treasure.
I would think that Treasure shmups (even though Radiant Silvergun is my all-time favorite game) are played less than Cave games. DoDonPachi, ESP Ra.De., and Katsui being some of the finest in the genre. Every time I think of Cave it makes me sad that Guwange, Dangun Feveron, and Katsui never got Switch ports. And that the Live Wire published Cave shmups are now delisted digitally.
Criminal.
Switch Physical Collection - 1,587 games (as of June 1st, 2026)
Switch 2 Physical Collection - 4 games (as of December 8th, 2025)
I would think that Treasure shmups (even though Radiant Silvergun is my all-time favorite game) are played less than Cave games. DoDonPachi, ESP Ra.De., and Katsui being some of the finest in the genre.
I mean, even if true, Treasure got in on the Sega and Nintendo and anime fandoms, and were known for non-shmups as well.
They also had game titles that had any chance of succeeding outside of Japan, let's be honest. :V
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Topic: Game of the Year: 2026
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