The 2026 Game of the Year race is beginning to take shape ahead of The Game Awards on December 10—and Grand Theft Auto 6 remains the clear favorite. Rockstar’s open-world sequel launches on November 19, just inside the awards’ eligibility window, giving it little time to prove itself but enormous momentum heading into the ceremony.

Polygon’s latest GOTY watch argues that this year’s field is unusually thin outside Rockstar’s juggernaut. Many potential contenders have landed in the high 80s rather than the 90-plus review range that typically signals a serious Game Awards contender, leaving Resident Evil Requiem as the current front-runner among already released games.

The current front-runners:

Resident Evil Requiem leads the pack thanks to its strong reviews, broad appeal, and the franchise’s reliable history at The Game Awards. Its high-80s critical scores may not be spectacular enough to win outright, but it remains the safest bet for a nomination.

Phantom Blade Zero has emerged as a new contender, drawing comparisons to Black Myth: Wukong as a visually striking action game from a Chinese studio. Its strong reviews give it a better position than many rivals, though its ultimate chances may depend on how broadly players embrace it after release.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave remains one of the year’s best-reviewed RPGs, praised for combining strong storytelling with refined tactical combat. Its biggest obstacle is genre: The Game Awards has historically placed Fire Emblem titles in the Sim/Strategy category rather than considering them for Game of the Year.

Big Walk is the leading indie hope. House House’s cooperative puzzle adventure holds a 91 Metacritic score, the highest among the current contenders, and its co-op design could appeal to voters in the same way It Takes Two did in 2021. Its challenge is accessibility: it is best experienced with friends, which may make it harder for jury members to play thoroughly.

007 First Light and Control Resonant are still in the conversation but have lost momentum. IO Interactive’s Bond debut has the cinematic polish and stealth pedigree to appeal to voters, while Remedy’s sequel benefits from the studio’s strong awards history—but both face questions about review sentiment and genre expectations.

Several games remain outside the top six but could force their way in. The Blood of Dawnwalker is viewed as a likely Best Narrative contender despite a lukewarm overall reception, while Star Wars Zero Company has passionate support among strategy fans. Pragmata, Pokémon Pokopia, Crimson Desert, and Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve are longer shots with dedicated followings.

Two major releases could still reshape the race. Grand Theft Auto 6 is widely expected to dominate nominations and win if its reception matches expectations, while Nintendo’s remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time could become a rare remake contender if it arrives before the deadline and earns the acclaim many expect.

For now, Resident Evil Requiem is the safest nomination bet, Big Walk is the strongest alternative, and everyone else is competing for a rapidly shrinking number of spots.