Topic: Game of the Year: 2026

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 87+ 2026 games on metacritic currently:

• Resident Evil Requiem - 89
• Pokopia - 88
• Mewgenics - 88
• Esoteric Ebb - 87
• Resident Evil 7 Biohazard: Gold Edition - 87

So we have some indies, resident evil, and the highest reviewed Pokemon game ever at the top.

There are also a zillion good looking games 80+.

Calling it early, Mario vs. GTA as the likely GOTY discussion. 3D Mario and GTA 6 are as safe a bets for GOTYC as possible so...there you go.

RER, Pokopia and Mewgenics are all likely to be nominated for something or other and one could possibly be nominated for the big award.

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

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.

More as the story develops.

@kkslider5552000 Could you imagine the sheer chaos that would ensue if Mario won over GTA! Unlikely of course, but still.

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.

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.

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)

If there is another BLUEY or BARBIE games on PS5 this year, it will be my GOTY 2026 candidates.