Golden Joystick Awards 2026: Meccha Cameleon and Resident Evil sweep the ballots
The video game award season kicked off this past week with the Golden Joystick Awards 2026, and some of the best games of the year were honoured for their contributions. While we’re still waiting for the blockbuster (or flop) of the year with the release of GTA VI, the Golden Joysticks offered some games from all the way back at the start of 2026 (so long ago…) a chance to shine.
And while there were some clear winners (and perhaps a sneak peek at who the leaders in the Game of the Year race could be), there were also some surprises, especially from indie and streamer darling Meccha Chameleon. The multiplayer social-deception game became a hit across platforms like Twitch and Kick, blending artistic skills with hide-and-seek mechanics. But let’s not spoil the list. Here are the 2026 Golden Joystick Award winners:
(The Golden Joystick Awards 2026 took place on Nov. 11, 2026. Nominations opened on Aug. 28 and included games released between Oct. 3, 2025, and Aug. 28, 2026.)
Full list of Golden Joystick Awards 2026 winners
Below, we’ve listed all the Golden Joystick Award winners for 2026, with some context and opinions.
Best Storytelling: Dispatch
Image credit: AdHoc Studio
Despite releasing all the way back on Oct. 22, 2025, Dispatch was eligible for this year’s Golden Joysticks and is still receiving accolades. The game picked up a host of awards at The Game Awards 2025 and the Steam Awards, but is now getting its Golden Joystick flowers. We loved this title, and for a while it had a hold on gamers, showing that a heavy story-driven game can still grab attention.
Best Audio Design: Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Capcom’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword claimed Best Audio Design, highlighting the importance of sound in its supernatural samurai adventure.
Best Multiplayer Game: Meccha Chameleon
Meccha Chameleon won Best Multiplayer Game. The Japanese indie project, created by the small development team of Lemorion_1224 and Haganeiro, showcases how a small team can compete with AAA dominance.
Best Visual Design: Control Resonant
Remedy Entertainment’s Control Resonant won Best Visual Design, continuing the studio’s reputation for striking supernatural worlds and unusual artistic direction.
Best Game Expansion: DOOM: The Dark Ages – Revelations
The Revelations expansion for DOOM: The Dark Ages took home Best Game Expansion. Building on id Software’s brutal first-person shooter, the additional content extends the game’s medieval-inspired demon-slaying action.
Best Indie Game, Self-Published: Meccha Chameleon
Meccha Chameleon collected its second award in the self-published indie category. At this point we expect it to win a lot more across all award shows.
Best Indie Game: Valheim
Iron Gate Studio’s Valheim won Best Indie Game, proving that its Viking-inspired survival adventure continues to attract players. While this game has been available in early access for a while, its full release and continued support helped it pick up an award at the Golden Joysticks.
Best Gaming Hardware: Steam Controller
Image credit: Valve
While the rollout of Valve’s Steam Controller has been a little shaky (and we’re still waiting on the Steam Machine to drop in price…), the peripheral won Best Gaming Hardware, recognising the company’s continued efforts to make PC gaming more accessible through dedicated hardware.
Studio of the Year: Capcom
Capcom was named Studio of the Year, with the Japanese developer winning accolades for Resident Evil Requiem and Onimusha: Way of the Sword. It just goes to show that respecting and building on your IP can create amazing games.
Best Early Access Game: Subnautica 2
Subnautica 2 won Best Early Access Game, continuing the underwater survival franchise’s popularity.
Best Soundtrack: Dispatch
Dispatch secured another victory with Best Soundtrack, adding to its Best Storytelling award.
Still Playing Award – Mobile: Balatro
Image credit: LocalThunk
Balatro won the Still Playing Award for Mobile, recognising its lasting popularity on smartphones. We’re definitely guilty of still playing Balatro, and it hasn’t left our phones since it released on mobile in 2025. One of the greatest roguelikes of all time continues its dominance.
Still Playing Award – PC and Console: Minecraft
Minecraft might be the greatest video game of all time (it’s certainly the best-selling). So, it’s no surprise that, with its new update schedule, it received this award. We’re still waiting for The Sift to release though! Mojang please!!
Streamers’ Choice: Meccha Chameleon
Image credit: lemorion_1224
Meccha Chameleon collected its third award through Streamers’ Choice voting. This is where the game really shines, in our opinion, as it has been a staple among streamers throughout 2026 and continues to find an audience today.
Best Game Trailer: Resident Evil Requiem – Evil Has Always Had a Name
Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem won Best Game Trailer for its Evil Has Always Had a Name promotional video.
Best Remake / Remaster: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered took home Best Remake / Remaster, recognising the continued appeal of CD Projekt Red’s acclaimed fantasy RPG ahead of The Witcher 4’s release in 2028.
Developers’ Choice: Meccha Chameleon
Meccha Chameleon added a fourth Golden Joystick to its collection by winning Developers’ Choice. Devs know a hit when they see one, and Meccha Chameleon rightfully earned accolades from its fellow creators.
Best Game Adaptation: Iron Lung
Iron Lung won Best Game Adaptation, bringing recognition to the film based on David Szymanski’s independent horror game. Content creator Markiplier starred in and directed the film, showcasing that, just like in gaming itself, video game adaptations don’t need a AAA budget to create something special.
Best Supporting Performer: Grace Saif, as Diana in PRAGMATA
Grace Saif won Best Supporting Performer for her portrayal of Diana in Capcom’s PRAGMATA.
Best Lead Performer: Angela Sant’Albano, as Grace Ashcroft in Resident Evil Requiem
Image credit: Capcom
Angela Sant’Albano won Best Lead Performer for her portrayal of Grace Ashcroft in Resident Evil Requiem.
PC Game of the Year: Crimson Desert
In what we’d say is the first misstep of the awards, Pearl Abyss’ Crimson Desert claimed PC Game of the Year with its ambitious open-world action-adventure experience. A seemingly failed MMO launch repackaged as a confusing offline RPG, it shows that even at the heights of PC gaming, we can still forget what actually makes a good game.
Console Game of the Year: Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem also claimed Console Game of the Year. Perhaps the spooky season contributed to this win, but the latest entry in the Resident Evil franchise is definitely spectacular.
Critics’ Choice Award: Big Walk
Big Walk received the Critics’ Choice Award, recognising its distinctive approach to cooperative gaming. Developed by House House, the team behind Untitled Goose Game, Big Walk has dodged controversy over AI usage in development and could potentially take home several awards this season.
Most Wanted Game: The Witcher 4
Image credit: CD Projekt Red
CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 4 won Most Wanted Game, demonstrating the enormous anticipation surrounding the next chapter of the fantasy franchise.
Ultimate Game of the Year: Resident Evil Requiem
The biggest prize of the evening went to Resident Evil Requiem, which secured Ultimate Game of the Year with 17% of the public vote. It narrowly defeated Phantom Blade Zero, which finished on 16%, while Crimson Desert followed with 15%.
Biggest winners at the Golden Joystick Awards 2026
Resident Evil Requiem
With four awards, Resident Evil Requiem was a big winner for Capcom and the AAA space, winning Ultimate Game of the Year, Console Game of the Year, Best Game Trailer and Best Lead Performer.
Meccha Chameleon
Meccha Chameleon also took home four awards in a big surprise. We’ve already showered this game with praise, and its awards for Best Multiplayer Game, Best Indie Game – Self-Published, Streamers’ Choice and Developers’ Choice are well deserved.
Who missed out at the Golden Joystick Awards 2026?
We can’t help but think there were some snubs at the 2026 game awards. One of our personal favourites, Pathologic 3, missed out on awards. Although, that’s par for the course for the cult series. Marvel’s Wolverine, Halloween: The Game and numerous other indie titles also missed out, despite being games we felt were in contention.
Then, because of the Golden Joystick Awards’ submission window, just-released titles like the Ocarina of Time remake and WoW: Forever will have to wait until the 2027 edition for recognition, as will GTA VI.
(Featured Image Credit: lemorion_1224)
Michael is an eight-year veteran of games writing and has been playing games for as long as he can remember. With bylines across the internet, he has used his expertise to cover esports, prediction markets, mainstream gaming, streamers and more.
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