The New York Videogame Critics Circle (NYVGCC) today announced the list of nominees for its 2026 Game Awards, with Ghost of Yotei and Hades getting the most nominations at four apiece. This ceremony includes a new award category, the Excelsior Award for Best New York Game, for video games made by studios based in New York. The ceremony airs on January 18 at the SVA Theater in Manhattan.
The nominees were announced in a livestream hosted by actor Ahmed Best and Lucasfilm assistant producer (and former NYVGCC intern) Kimari Rennis. In addition to the announced nominees, the NYVGCC will honor The Pokémon Company with the Andrew Yoon Legend Award.
Another new addition is the GG Fest, a celebratory event held the day before the awards on January 17. It will feature panels discussions from developers and an exclusive concert from Darren Korb and Ashley Barrett called Supergiant Games: Unplugged.
Harold Goldberg, president and founder of the NYVGCC, said in a statement, “This year had so many amazing games that we felt it was necessary to introduce the new Excelsior Award to shine an extra spotlight on the games coming out of New York. This year’s awards highlight 66 of the best games made by game studios and individuals across the world. Our dedicated team of journalists, interns and volunteers are counting down the days until we can celebrate their accomplishments at our 15th annual New York Game Awards on Sunday, January 18.”
Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year
- Blue Prince
- Split Fiction
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Despelote
- Sword of the Sea
- Silent Hill f
- Hades II
- Ghost of Yōtei
A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game
- Skate City: New York
- What The Clash?
- Umamusume: Pretty Derby
- Is This Seat Taken?
- Spooky Express
- Chaos Zero Nightmare
Central Park Children’s Zoo Award for Best Kids Game
- Sunderfolk
- Koira
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Lego Party!
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
High Line Award for Best Remake
- The Talos Principle: Reawakened
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
- Story Of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
- Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
- Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
- Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
Statue of Liberty Award for Best World
- Split Fiction
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Hades II
- Baby Steps
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
- Keeper
Off Broadway Award for Best Indie Game
- Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist
- Blue Prince
- Despelote
- Deltarune Chapters 3+4
- Consume Me
- No, I’m not a Human
- Tiny Bookshop
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Herman Melville Award for Best Writing in a Game
- Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
- Avowed
- The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-
- Mafia: The Old Country
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Blippo+
Excelsior Award for Best New York Game
- Despelote
- Baby Steps
- Consume Me
- Old Skies
- Ball x Pit
- Skate Story
Coney Island Dreamland Award for Best AR/VR Game
- Ghost Town
- V-Racer Hoverbike
- The Midnight Walk
- Lumines Arise
- Marvel’s Deadpool VR
- Arken Age
Great White Way Award for Best Acting in a Game
- Adriyan Rae as Hazel in South of Midnight
- Jennifer English as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Amelia Sargisson as Nora in Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
- Alex Jordan as Jan Dolski in The Alters
- Judy Alice Lee as Melinoë in Hades II
- Erika Ishii as Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei
Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game
- Lumines Arise
- South of Midnight
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Mario Kart World
- Deltarune Chapters 3+4
- Sword of the Sea
- Hades II
- Ghost of Yōtei
Chumley’s Speakeasy Award for Best Hidden Gem
- Keep Driving
- Nubby’s Number Factory
- News Tower
- Many Nights a Whisper
- Xenotilt: Hostile Pinball Action
- and Roger
- Look Outside
- Shujinkou
NYC GWB Award for Best DLC
- Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker
- Lies of P: Overture
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Star-Crossed World
- The Sims 4 Adventure Awaits
- Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune
- Hello Kitty Island Adventure – Wheatflour Wonderland
Knickerbocker Award for Best Games Journalism
- Duncan Fyfe
- Felipe Pepe
- Jackson Tyler
- Joseph Earl Thomas
- Lewis Gordon
- Nicanor Gordon
- People Make Games