Resident Evil Requiem Wins Golden Joystick Game of the Year
Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem won the Ultimate Game of the Year award at the 2026 Golden Joystick Awards on Wednesday, beating Crimson Desert, 007: First Light and Pragmata. The survival-horror game also took home Console Game of the Year, while its lead actor won Best Lead Performer.
Angela Sant’Albano, who plays protagonist Grace Ashcroft, won Best Lead Performer ahead of Liam McIntyre for Marvel’s Wolverine and Patrick Gibson for 007: First Light. Crimson Desert, an action-adventure title, was named PC Game of the Year.
Dawn reported the results from tech outlet Polygon, which noted that the Golden Joysticks are the first awards show of the season. That makes them an early sign of which games could win more honours at The Game Awards in December, run by Geoff Keighley.
Why Resident Evil Requiem’s win matters
Requiem’s win caps a strong year for the series. Dawn reviewed the game earlier this year and praised its visual fidelity and mechanics, its tense atmosphere, and the performances of Sant’Albano and Nick Apostolides as Grace and Leon. The awards add to that reception, with the game winning in three major categories on one night.
The result also sets up the next awards show. Grand Theft Auto VI was not in competition at the Golden Joysticks because it launches on November 19, nearly a week after the awards were handed out. Polygon noted that GTA VI will reshape the awards race, so later shows could look very different from this one. GTA VI downloads began ahead of the November 19 launch, and Rockstar has confirmed that the game will run at 30 frames per second on PS5 Pro.
Big Walk wins amid AI debate
Indie title Big Walk, developed by House House, won the Critics’ Choice Award. The game was also nominated in several other categories, including Ultimate Game of the Year, Best Sound Design and Best Indie Game.
The win came with debate. Polygon reported that the developer confirmed this week that AI large language models were used in the game’s development cycle, after the November 5 cut-off date for voting, when voters did not know about it. The studio says under 0.1 per cent of the game’s code involved generative AI tools, but the outlet noted that many voters may still hold it against the game at later awards shows.
A high bar from last year
Last year, French indie Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominated the awards circuit, winning nine categories at The Game Awards. That remains the recent benchmark for a single game, and Requiem’s three wins put it in strong company as the season moves on.
For players in Pakistan, the awards season has already been busy. The Zelda Ocarina of Time remake sold 5.2 million copies in four days, and The Witcher 3 will use AI to restore Geralt’s original Polish voice in its 2027 expansion. The Golden Joystick results add another talking point before GTA VI arrives on November 19.
Frequently asked questions
What won Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2026 Golden Joystick Awards?
Resident Evil: Requiem won the top prize, beating Crimson Desert, 007: First Light and Pragmata. It also won Console Game of the Year.
Who won Best Lead Performer?
Angela Sant’Albano won for playing Grace Ashcroft in Resident Evil: Requiem. She beat Liam McIntyre for Marvel’s Wolverine and Patrick Gibson for 007: First Light.
What are the Golden Joystick Awards?
They are an annual games awards show and the first major awards event of the season. Polygon noted that the results can be an early sign of what will win at The Game Awards in December.
Was GTA VI nominated?
No. Grand Theft Auto VI was not in competition because it launches on November 19, nearly a week after the awards were handed out.
What won PC Game of the Year?
Crimson Desert was named PC Game of the Year.
When are The Game Awards?
The Game Awards take place in December, run by Geoff Keighley.
