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New York Game Awards 2026: Full List of Nominees Announced

Check the complete list of nominees for the 15th Annual New York Game Awards, hosted at SVA Theatre.
NYVGCC celebrates 15 years with the 2026 New York Game Awards

The New York Videogame Critics Circle (NYVGCC) has officially revealed the nominees for the 15th Annual New York Game Awards, set to take place at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan on Sunday, January 18, 2026.


The announcement was made during a livestream hosted on the NYVGCC YouTube channel, with Star Wars actor Ahmed Best and Lucasfilm assistant producer Kimari Rennis presenting the nominees.


This year’s ceremony will also honor The Pokémon Company with the prestigious Andrew Yoon Legend Award. In addition, NYVGCC has introduced a brand-new category, the Excelsior Award for Best New York Game, designed to spotlight titles developed by studios based in New York.


Here’s the full list of nominees for the 15th Annual New York Game Awards:


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


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


The New York Game Awards nominees are chosen and voted on by members of the New York Videogame Critics Circle (NYVGCC). Unlike The Game Awards, which mixes jury votes with public fan voting, the NYVGCC process is primarily critic‑driven, with its 40 members deciding winners.


The celebration begins on Saturday, January 17, with the newly added GG Fest, featuring panels from game creators and a special Supergiant Games: Unplugged concert by Darren Korb and Ashley Barrett. Tickets are available via Eventbrite, with bundle options offering preferred seating. For those unable to attend in person, the awards will be livestreamed on YouTube and Twitch.


Last year’s Game of the Year went to Astro Bot from Team Asobi, and this year’s lineup promises another exciting showcase of the best in gaming.

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