The shortlist for 2026’s Golden Joystick Awards is out, together with PC Recreation of the Yr, and you’ll vote now

The Golden Joystick Awards have been working for therefore lengthy there was a interval the place they awarded separate prizes for 8-bit and 16-bit video games in every class. In 1988, rail shooter Operation Wolf was the 8-bit Pc Recreation of the Yr, whereas the Bitmap Brothers’ futuresport Speedball took residence 16-bit Pc Recreation of the Yr.

The shortlist of nominees in publicly voted classes for this 12 months’s forty fourth annual Golden Joystick Awards have been introduced. (The nominees for Final Recreation of the Yr will not be revealed till October 26, when voting will open in that class too.) Of specific curiosity to us are the ten video games chosen for PC Recreation of the Yr.

Huge WalkCrimson DesertEscape from TarkovEsoteric EbbMeccha ChameleonMewgenicsOrder of the Sinking StarStar Warfare Zero CompanyThe Blood of DawnwalkerValheim

To qualify these video games needed to be launched between November 1, 2025, and September 25, 2026, except pre-release variations could possibly be made out there to the judges earlier than the deadline. What’s your decide, and is there one thing you assume deserved to make the lower that is lacking right here?

You possibly can vote on these, and different classes together with Finest Storytelling, Finest Multiplayer Recreation, Finest Visible Design, Finest Indie Recreation, and Finest Indie Recreation – Self Printed over at GamesRadar. Voting closes on October 23 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET / midnight BST, and the winners might be revealed at a ceremony held on November 11.