The New York Videogame Critics Circle (NYVGCC) announced the nominees for its 15th annual New York Game Awards ceremony. The nominations, read by former NYVGCC interns Ahmed Best (Star Wars) and Kimari Rennis (Lucasfilm), come just days after emcee Geoff Keighley led The Game Awards 2025 and BAFTA shared its comprehensive gaming longlists. The New York Videogame Critics Circle also plans to honor The Pokémon Company with its 2026 Andrew Yoon Legend Award. NYVGCC will also introduce a new award category for its 2026 ceremony — The Excelsior Award for Best New York Game — to recognize New York-based development teams.
“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,” said NYVGCC founder and president Harold Goldberg. “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.”
Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Yotei is the event’s most-nominated title; the action-adventure hit has been nominated for four New York Game Awards, including Best Game of the Year, Best Music, and Best Writing. Seasoned performer Erika Ishii also received a nomination for their portrayal of the game’s protagonist, Atsu. Nintendo is the ceremony’s most-nominated publisher, with five nominations in four separate categories. Tapped Nintendo Switch 2 titles include Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Star-Crossed World, Mario Kart World, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Without further ado, here are the 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
About the 15th Annual New York Game Awards
The 2026 New York Game Awards takes place on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan, New York. The celebration officially kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 17, with the new GG Fest. The even will feature panel discussions with beloved game creators as well as an exclusive “Supergiant Games: Unplugged” concert from Darren Korb and Ashley Barrett.
Tickets for GG Fest and the 15th Annual New York Game Awards are available on Eventbrite for $80 each. For $140, audience members can pick up an event bundle with preferred seating. Staying home? Watch the livestream via the NYVGCC YouTube and Twitch channels! Check out the official website for more information.
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