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The Golden Joystick Awards’ 2026 Console Game of the Year ballot had ten nominees, but the public vote is no longer open: core-category voting closed on October 23. The games that made the console shortlist are 007 First Light, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Forza Horizon 6, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Nioh 3, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Pokémon Pokopia, PRAGMATA, Resident Evil Requiem and SAROS. Destructoid’s report specifically called out CONTROL Resonant and Crimson Desert as notable omissions, while the awards organizers say shortlists reflect submissions, judging and eligibility rules rather than every popular game.
Which games were nominated for Console Game of the Year?
The 2026 console shortlist contains ten titles:
| Nominee | What its inclusion means |
|---|---|
| 007 First Light | Eligible for the console category and selected for the final public ballot. |
| Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave | Eligible for the console category and selected for the final public ballot. |
| Forza Horizon 6 | Eligible for the console category and selected for the final public ballot. |
| LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight | Eligible for the console category and selected for the final public ballot. |
| Nioh 3 | Eligible for the console category and selected for the final public ballot. |
| Onimusha: Way of the Sword | Eligible for the console category and selected for the final public ballot. |
| Pokémon Pokopia | Eligible for the console category and selected for the final public ballot. |
| PRAGMATA | Eligible for the console category and selected for the final public ballot. |
| Resident Evil Requiem | Eligible for the console category and selected for the final public ballot. |
| SAROS | Eligible for the console category and selected for the final public ballot. |
The list is a console-focused category, not a complete ranking of every game released during the awards year. A nomination indicates that a title reached the final ballot; it does not by itself establish a winner or a critical consensus.
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Who was left out of the Golden Joystick Console GOTY nominees?
Destructoid’s October 18 report identified CONTROL Resonant and Crimson Desert as prominent omissions and described fan disappointment around their absence. That is reported reaction from the article, not an independently measured poll or an official finding that either game was disqualified.
An omission can have several explanations. Publishers must submit games for consideration, and a judging panel made up of editors and contributors from Future brands—including GamesRadar, PC Gamer, Edge and Retro Gamer—along with industry experts debates those submissions before selecting the shortlist. The organizers also acknowledge that ten places cannot accommodate every well-liked release.
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When did Golden Joystick voting close?
The dates matter because the ballot changed during the week of October 27, 2026:
- Core-category voting, including Console Game of the Year, opened on September 25 and closed on October 23, 2026.
- Ultimate Game of the Year voting opened on October 26 and is scheduled to close on October 30, 2026.
- The ceremony is scheduled for November 11, 2026, in London, with a global livestream.
Therefore, pages or social posts saying the console ballot is still open are out of date as of October 27. The active public decision at that point is the Ultimate Game of the Year ballot.
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Release timing and category rules are as important as enthusiasm. Core-category eligibility generally covers games released from November 1, 2025, through September 25, 2026. Ultimate Game of the Year and the critically selected awards use separate eligibility windows, so a title can fit one award while missing another.
Submission is not the same as nomination
Publishers submit games, people and studios. The judging panel then reviews and debates those submissions; the public votes only after the shortlist is set. A fan cannot add a missing game to the Console Game of the Year ballot, even if that game appears in another Golden Joystick category.
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What the omission does—and does not—tell you
It tells you that the title was not among the ten finalists for this category. It does not prove the game was ineligible, rejected unanimously, or less popular with players than every nominee. Those conclusions would require evidence the organizers have not published here.
How significant is the public vote?
The awards’ official 2025 release reported 21 million public votes. That figure is labeled as 2025 participation and should not be treated as a forecast for the 2026 total.
Daniel Dawkins, Content Director of the Golden Joystick Awards at Future, said: “This year, no single game dominates the field, this is one of our most open and unpredictable years yet – making your vote more influential than ever in deciding our winners.” The statement describes the organizers’ view of the competitive field; it is not a prediction of which nominee will win.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should console players take from the shortlist?
Use the ballot as a defined snapshot of the judging panel’s choices within the console category and its eligibility window. If you are assessing a game that is absent—such as CONTROL Resonant or Crimson Desert—check its release date, the category it entered and whether its publisher submitted it before treating the omission as a quality verdict.
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- SURVIVE AS GRACE ASHCROFT — Step into terrifying survival horror as FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft faces deadly threats and fights to escape death.
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The next decisive date is November 11, when the winners are presented in London and streamed globally. Until then, the closed console ballot and the still-open Ultimate Game of the Year ballot are separate parts of the 2026 awards process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still vote for Console Game of the Year after October 23?
No. The core-category ballot, which included Console Game of the Year, closed on October 23, 2026. Only the separately scheduled Ultimate Game of the Year vote remained open on October 27.
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No. Publishers submit entries and a judging panel selects the shortlist first. Public voting decides among those finalists rather than creating the nominee list.
What date range makes a game eligible for the core categories?
The general core window runs from November 1, 2025 through September 25, 2026. Other Golden Joystick awards use different windows, so eligibility must be checked against the specific category.
When and where will the 2026 Golden Joystick winners be announced?
The ceremony is scheduled for November 11, 2026, in London, with a livestream available globally. The console result will be revealed as part of that event.
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