Golden Joystick Awards 2026 Winners: Resident Evil Requiem Wins

The Golden Joystick Awards 2026 are done, and the big prize went to a horror game. Resident Evil Requiem was named Ultimate Game of the Year at the 44th ceremony in London on Wednesday, 11 November.

It wasn't a one-game night, though. Requiem won four awards, and the co-op oddity Meccha Chameleon matched it with four of its own. The Witcher 4, which still has no release date, won Most Wanted Game.

Below you'll find every verified winner, what the results tell us, how the public vote works, and a few ways to turn the results into a proper debate in your Discord server.

At a glance - Event: 44th Golden Joystick Awards, run by GamesRadar+ - When: Wednesday, 11 November 2026, 10am PT / 6pm GMT (11:30pm IST) - Where: London, streamed live on YouTube, Twitch, Steam, TikTok and X - Categories: 25 (22 public vote, 3 chosen by critics, streamers and developers) - Ultimate Game of the Year: Resident Evil Requiem - Most wins: Resident Evil Requiem and Meccha Chameleon, four each - Most Wanted Game: The Witcher 4

🏆 Golden Joystick Awards 2026 Winners: Full List

Here are all 25 winners, checked against two separate full lists published after the show.

A ruined city in Resident Evil Requiem, this year's Ultimate Game of the Year. Image: Capcom via Steam.

🧟 Resident Evil Requiem Takes the Top Prize

Requiem's big win was close. Forbes reported the Ultimate Game of the Year split as 17% for Requiem, 16% for Phantom Blade Zero and 15% for Crimson Desert.

Timing may have played a part. Phantom Blade Zero launched on 29 October, a day before the final vote closed, so many players had barely started it. Game Rant also pointed to the voting cutoff as a factor in Requiem's favour.

Capcom had a strong night overall. Alongside Requiem's four wins, it took Studio of the Year, and its Onimusha: Way of the Sword won Best Audio Design.

🦎 Meccha Chameleon Is the Surprise Story

Meccha Chameleon won Best Multiplayer Game and Best Self-Published Indie through the public vote. It also won Streamers' Choice and the new Developers' Choice award, which aren't decided by the public.

That's a rare mix. Fans, streamers and developers all backed the same game, and it's the kind of co-op pick that spreads through Discord friend groups.

🐺 Big Wins for CD Projekt Red

CD Projekt Red left with two awards. The Witcher 4 won Most Wanted Game, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered won Best Remake / Remaster.

The Most Wanted award only tells you how excited voters are. It isn't a sign that a release date is close, and CD Projekt Red hasn't announced one for The Witcher 4.

Crimson Desert won PC Game of the Year. Image: Pearl Abyss via Steam.

Other notable winners include Crimson Desert for PC Game of the Year, Dispatch for both Best Storytelling and Best Soundtrack, and Big Walk for Critics' Choice.

🗳️ How Golden Joysticks Voting Works

The Golden Joysticks are mostly a fan vote. Anyone can take part through GamesRadar+, and voters were offered a free ebook for joining in.

According to the official awards page, the 2026 timeline looked like this:

The Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist had 12 games: 007 First Light, Big Walk, Control Resonant, Crimson Desert, Dispatch, Forza Horizon 6, Phantom Blade Zero, Pokémon Pokopia, Pragmata, Resident Evil Requiem, Star Wars: Galactic Racer and The Blood of Dawnwalker.

Three awards skip the public vote: Critics' Choice, Streamers' Choice and Developers' Choice. Most Wanted is for games due after the ceremony.

Dispatch won Best Storytelling and Best Soundtrack. Image: AdHoc Studio via Steam.

💬 Take the Debate to Your Discord Server

Award results are perfect server fuel. Everyone has an opinion on who got robbed. Here are a few easy ways to use the moment.

Run a "your pick" poll. Discord's built-in polls allow up to 10 answers and can stay open for up to a week. Put the top Ultimate Game of the Year contenders in and see if your members agree with the 1% margin.

Open a results thread. Keep the debate in one thread in your gaming channel so it doesn't bury normal chat. Pin the full winners table so newcomers can catch up.

Plan a rewatch the legal way. The ceremony was streamed free on YouTube and Twitch. Share the official link and let everyone watch on their own screen while you chat in voice. Don't screen share someone else's broadcast, since Discord's rules ask you to only stream content you own or have permission to use.

Get ready for the next show. The Game Awards follow on 10 December, so it's a good time to set up a scheduled event. Our Discord events guide covers the setup, and our guide to writing clean Discord announcements helps you post the results without a wall of text.

If you're starting a server around award season debates, see how to set up a gaming Discord server first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Ultimate Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2026?

Resident Evil Requiem. It also won Console Game of the Year, Best Game Trailer and Best Lead Performer.

When were the Golden Joystick Awards 2026 held?

On Wednesday, 11 November 2026 in London, starting at 10am PT / 6pm GMT.

Which game won the most awards?

Resident Evil Requiem and Meccha Chameleon tied with four awards each.

What won Most Wanted Game?

The Witcher 4. It has no confirmed release date yet.

Who votes in the Golden Joysticks?

The public votes in 22 categories. Critics, streamers and developers choose the other three.

🎮 The Bottom Line

The Golden Joystick Awards 2026 crowned Resident Evil Requiem, but by a tiny margin. Meccha Chameleon's four wins and The Witcher 4's Most Wanted award show how varied this year's fan vote was.

With The Game Awards less than a month away, this is the warm-up round for award season arguments. Which game do you think should have won Ultimate Game of the Year?

Sources

1. GamesRadar+: Golden Joystick Awards official page (voting dates, eligibility windows, Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist)
2. Gamespress: How to Watch the 44th Golden Joystick Awards (date, time, platforms, 25 categories)
3. Bleeding Cool: The Full List of Winners From the 2026 Golden Joystick Awards, 11 November 2026
4. Forbes: 2026 Golden Joysticks Winners, Resident Evil Requiem Takes GOTY, 12 November 2026
5. Game Rant: Resident Evil Requiem Was Just Named the Ultimate Game of the Year, 12 November 2026
6. Discord Help Center: Polls FAQ
7. Discord Help Center: Stage Channel Guidelines