ALEX BROWN
Capcom had a very good night in London. Resident Evil Requiem was named Ultimate Game of the Year at the 44th Golden Joystick Awards, the world’s longest-running public-voted games awards. Capcom’s survival horror sequel won four trophies in total, matching indie phenomenon MECCHA CHAMELEON, which also took home four. Insider Gaming reports it was one of the closest races of the night, with Phantom Blade Zero finishing just behind.
Biggest winners
Beyond the top prize, Resident Evil Requiem won Console Game of the Year, Best Game Trailer for its live-action short “Evil Has Always Had A Name,” and Best Lead Performer for Angela Sant’Albano as Grace Ashcroft. Capcom was connected to seven awards overall, including Studio of the Year, Best Audio Design for Onimusha: Way of the Sword and Best Supporting Performer for Grace Saif in PRAGMATA.
MECCHA CHAMELEON swept Best Multiplayer Game, Best Indie Game – Self-Published, Streamers’ Choice and the brand-new Developers’ Choice award. Its streaming popularity also showed up at this week’s Streamer Awards, where it won Stream Game of the Year.
Full Golden Joystick Awards 2026 winners list
- Ultimate Game of the Year: Resident Evil Requiem
- Console Game of the Year: Resident Evil Requiem
- PC Game of the Year: Crimson Desert
- Critics’ Choice: Big Walk
- Most Wanted Game: The Witcher 4
- Studio of the Year: Capcom
- Best Storytelling: Dispatch
- Best Soundtrack: Dispatch
- Best Audio Design: Onimusha: Way of the Sword
- Best Visual Design: CONTROL Resonant
- Best Multiplayer Game: MECCHA CHAMELEON
- Best Indie Game – Self-Published: MECCHA CHAMELEON
- Best Indie Game: Valheim
- Streamers’ Choice: MECCHA CHAMELEON
- Developers’ Choice: MECCHA CHAMELEON
- Best Game Expansion: DOOM: The Dark Ages
- Best Remake / Remaster: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered
- Best Early Access Game: Subnautica 2
- Best Gaming Hardware: Steam Controller
- Best Game Trailer: Resident Evil Requiem – Evil Has Always Had A Name
- Best Game Adaptation: Iron Lung
- Best Lead Performer: Angela Sant’Albano, Resident Evil Requiem
- Best Supporting Performer: Grace Saif, PRAGMATA
- Still Playing – Consoles & PC: Minecraft
- Still Playing – Mobile: Balatro
How the Golden Joysticks work
The show features 25 categories. Twenty-two are decided by a global public vote, while Streamers’ Choice, Critics’ Choice and the new Developers’ Choice are chosen by panels. The 2026 ceremony was held on November 11 and hosted by actor Alix Wilton Regan. Grand Theft Auto VI, which launches November 19, was not eligible.
What it means for awards season
The Golden Joysticks are the first big stop before The Game Awards on December 10, which announces nominees on November 17. A public-vote win doesn’t guarantee jury love, but Requiem‘s sweep puts it firmly in the Game of the Year conversation alongside critical darlings like Big Walk and Nintendo’s Ocarina of Time remake.
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Sources: GamingTrend, Insider Gaming, EGW News.