Final yr, we requested if something may beat Grand Theft Auto 6 for Sport of the 12 months 2025 — “aside from Rockstar’s skill to complete it in time.” Ultimately, it was simply that that took Rockstar’s recreation out of the equation, with delays to Might and, later, November 2026 opening the way in which for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s historic sweep at The 2025 Sport Awards. And so, waiting for GOTY 2026, we discover ourselves with a case of déjà vu. As soon as once more, GTA 6 begins the yr as the favourite to win. As soon as once more, Rockstar’s biggest enemy will probably be its personal punctuality. Though one other delay at this level is much less probably, it’s definitely nonetheless doable, and with its present Nov. 19 launch date simply squeaking into The Sport Awards’ ordinary eligibility window, it will solely take a slip of a two days or extra to ship GTA 6 into competitors for the 2027 awards. As soon as once more, GTA 6 seems laborious to beat, however not unattainable. Rockstar’s Pink Useless Redemption 2 was overwhelmed to GOTY by Sony Santa Monica’s God of Warfare in 2018, whereas GTA 5 was eclipsed in most awards ceremonies and GOTY votes — if not on the Sport Awards predecessor, VGX — by The Final of Us. If something, GTA 6’s juggernaut standing is a paradoxical type of weak point, as critics and juries will probably be searching for an interesting different narrative to latch onto to maintain issues attention-grabbing. So what else would possibly problem it? Predicting nominees this early within the yr is, admittedly, a little bit of a idiot’s errand: the panorama of indie and smaller releases may be very unclear, whereas larger video games usually get delayed or don’t pan out, and sure publishers (like Nintendo) have but to announce their titles for the second half of the yr. Nonetheless, there are already a handful of 2026 releases that appear like they are going to be robust contenders. Listed below are 5 that stand a robust likelihood of being nominated alongside GTA 6.
1. Management Resonant
Picture: Treatment Leisure
Treatment’s surreal sequel is well the strongest challenger to GTA 6’s hegemony. Certainly, Treatment may be the best Sport Awards studio: It makes technically achieved, visually hanging, narratively subtle action-adventure video games whereas working simply far sufficient exterior the business mainstream to nonetheless really feel like an underdog. The unique Management secured eight nominations and one win in 2019, whereas Alan Wake 2 ran Baldur’s Gate 3 a detailed second in 2023, changing three of its eight nods into wins within the coveted Sport Course, Narrative, and Artwork Course classes. After a surprising trailer reveal on the 2025 Awards, Management Resonant is to not be underestimated.
2. Resident Evil Requiem
Picture: Capcom
A brand new (or, for that matter, remade) Resident Evil recreation is extra more likely to be nominated for Sport of the 12 months than not. This sequence has a superb current report at The Sport Awards — Resident Evil 2 was nominated for the highest honor in 2019, Village in 2021, and 4 in 2023 — plus a fame for dependable high quality. Admittedly, a win can be a way more far-fetched proposition, however you’ll be able to rely on Capcom being in rivalry.
3. Marvel’s Wolverine
Picture: Insomniac Video games/Sony Interactive Leisure
The Wolverine recreation from Insomniac is likely one of the largest business prospects of the yr, and by way of finances and manufacturing values, probably one of many few that may be capable to give GTA 6 a run for its huge pile of cash. Like Resident Evil, Insomniac’s slick Marvel video games venture is nice at selecting up a lot of nominations at The Sport Awards, and fewer good at changing them into wins. Will the transfer from Spider-Man to an edgier character and (a lot) extra violent motion change issues in Wolverine’s favor? Maybe, and it is going to be Sony’s prime contender for the yr, which roughly ensures it a spot on the desk.
4. Fireplace Emblem: Fortune’s Weave
Picture: Clever Programs/Nintendo
Nintendo is never absent from the listing of Sport of the 12 months nominees. Within the absence of a transparent concept what its massive vacation 2026 recreation will probably be (a brand new mainline Pokémon and a 3D Mario recreation are each potentialities), Fortune’s Weave makes a compelling placeholder. Fireplace Emblem is a distinct segment sequence, it’s true, but it surely has been constructing steadily in each recognition and demanding fame over the previous few years, whereas its concerned anime storytelling fashion and tactical fight get extra trendy and nearer to the gaming mainstream by the day. It wouldn’t be a shock.
5. The Blood of Dawnwalker
Picture: Insurgent Wolves/Bandai Namco Leisure
The ever-growing European voting bloc on the jury is more and more making its affect felt, notably on the subject of nominating massive, bold Euro role-playing video games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Insurgent Wolves’ debut is a perfect recreation to draw these votes and fill this slot, notably given the Witcher 3 pedigree of its builders — and its robust resemblance to that 2015 GOTY winner.
What in regards to the indies?
Picture: Beethover & Dinosaur/Annapurna Interactive
The flaw in our listing is that it doesn’t function an indie contender. Whereas The Sport Awards jury often solely nominates one indie recreation for Sport of the 12 months — 2025’s trio of indie picks looks like a fluke — it additionally not often fails to appoint one. It’s practically unattainable to foretell what that recreation may be at this level, as the most important indie video games of every yr usually come out of the blue, however a couple of probably candidates can be:
Mixtape: a music-driven, nostalgic street journey of a recreation printed by the tastemakers at Annapurna Interactive
Changed: a much-anticipated cyberpunk journey with a lavishly detailed pixel-art aesthetic
Ontos: Frictional’s mysterious follow-up to the Amnesia sequence (if it’s not too scary)
Slay the Spire 2: sequel to the massively widespread roguelike deckbuilder (however it could not make it out of early entry in 2026)
Mina the Hollower: Yacht Membership Video games’ Shovel Knight follow-up, an enchanting-looking retro Zelda tribute (if the studio can handle to complete it)
Different challengers
Picture: Housemarque/Sony Interactive Leisure
Gears of Warfare: E-Day: Considered one of two huge franchise revivals from Xbox Sport Studios in 2026, E-Day must present that this very 2000s sequence continues to be related
Fable: After a protracted growth, there’s so much driving on Forza Horizon developer Playground Video games’ tackle the beloved RPG sequence
Saros: Critics liked Housemarque’s Returnal, however The Sport Awards jury tends to not reply that nicely to pure motion video games like this
The Duskbloods: FromSoftware ought to by no means be dominated out, though this Change 2 unique’s multiplayer focus is a handicap within the GOTY race
Phantom Blade Zero: This yr’s Black Fable: Wukong might be this extraordinarily fluid-looking Chinese language martial arts journey
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