The 40th Golden Joystick Awards has revealed this year’s shortlisted games, and voting is now open worldwide until Friday, November 4 2022. The event is the longest-running public-voted game awards show around, with millions of votes cast every year, and is run by PC Gamer’s parent company Future.
Winners will be revealed in an all-digital awards show broadcast on all major streaming platforms on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. The 18 categories include over 70 games, so you’ll surely find something worth your own precious vote.
Among the hot favourites is Elden Ring, which has a whopping four nominations including ‘Best Multiplayer Game’, ‘Best Visual Design’, ‘PlayStation Game of the Year’, with developer FromSoftware Inc. being nominated for ‘Studio of the Year’. Other biggies with multiple nominations include Horizon Forbidden West, Splatoon 3, Final Fantasy XIV and Teardown.
There’s even a spot for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, which warms this old shellhead’s heart.
“With a few glorious exceptions, many of 2022’s hotly-anticipated blockbuster releases have shifted into 2023 […] making this one of the most eclectic, unpredictable and hard-to-spell-check Golden Joystick Awards shortlists in recent memory,” writes Daniel Dawkins, content director of games and film. “Indies, AAs and even a few solo devs diversify the field, with titles such as Immortality, Cult of the Lamb, Tunic, Vampire Survivors, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist and Neon White (to name but a few) leading the ever-contentious debate among our shortlist judges.
“Of course, some of 2022’s biggest games are 2021’s biggest games. Or even 2013’s biggest games. This shift to always-on ‘service’ gaming is reflected in our ‘Still Playing’ award, where franchise titans jostle to claim the Golden Joystick trophy. Equally, some of 2022’s best games won’t be officially released until 2023, and we recognise the importance of Early Access titles in our new award, ‘Best Early Access Launch’.”
The Nominations are:
Best Audio
We Are OFKXenoblade Chronicles 3Metal: HellsingerTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s RevengeGran Turismo 7OlliOlli World
Best Storytelling
IMMORTALITYReturn to Monkey IslandHorizon Forbidden WestNORCOI Was A Teenage ExocolonistWayward Strand
Best Game Community
DreamsFinal Fantasy XIVGRID LegendsNo Man’s SkySplatoon 3Warframe
Best Game Expansion
Final Fantasy XIV: EndwalkerDestiny 2: The Witch QueenCuphead: The Delicious Last CourseGTA Online: The ContractGuild Wars 2: End of DragonsTotal War: Warhammer III – Immortal Empires
Best Gaming Hardware
PlaydateSteam DeckAnalogue PocketBackbone One: PlayStation EditionRoccat Kone XPWD_Black SN850 NVMe SSD for PS5
Best Indie Game
Cult of the LambTunicRollerdromeDorfromantikNeon WhiteTeardown
Best Multiplayer Game
Elden RingTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s RevenueMultiVersusSplatoon 3Tiny Tina’s WonderlandsLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Best Visual Design
Elden RingHorizon Forbidden WestCult of the LambGhostwire: TokyoA Plague Tale: RequiemLost in Play
Most Wanted Game
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomFinal Fantasy XVIAssassin’s Creed MirageDead Island 2ForspokenStreet Fighter 6Star Wars Jedi: SurvivorWarhammer 40,000: DarktideHonkai: Star RailStarfieldExoprimalRedfallHogwarts LegacyThe Day BeforeMass EffectMarvel’s Spider-Man 2Final Fantasy VII RebirthHollow Knight: SilksongKerbal Space Program 2Dead Space
Nintendo Game of the Year
Xenoblade Chronicles 3Pokémon Legends: ArceusKirby and the Forgotten LandLive A LiveSplatoon 3Nintendo Switch Sports
PC Game of the Year
Neon WhiteReturn to Monkey IslandHardspace: ShipbreakerTeardownTotal War: Warhammer 3Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters
PlayStation Game of the Year
Gran Turismo 7Horizon Forbidden WestStrayElden RingThe Last Of Us Part ISifu
Xbox Game of the Year
Halo InfiniteScornGroundedAs Dusk FallsSniper Elite 5Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Still Playing
Genshin ImpactThe Sims 4Destiny 2Final Fantasy XIVMinecraftFortnitePokémon GOApex LegendsLost ArkThe Elder Scrolls Online
Studio of the Year
Roll7Terrible ToyboxHalf MermaidFromSoftware Inc.Interior / NightTribute Games
Best Early Access Launch
Disney Dreamlight ValleySlime Rancher 2Dune: Spice WarsCore KeeperVampire SurvivorsGloomwood
Best Game Trailer
The Callisto Protocol The Truth of Black Iron TrailerGoat Simulator 3 Announcement Trailerskate. Still Working On It TrailerBloody Hell Hotel Reveal TrailerTime Flies Announcement TrailerAlan Wake 2 Reveal Trailer
The one category not included above is Ultimate Game of the Year, which has a separate voting window opening on Monday, November 7. There are also three categories decided by a panel of journalists from across Future’s various gaming titles, including GamesRadar, PC Gamer, Edge magazine, Retro Gamer and Play magazine. The winners of the ‘Best Performer’, ‘Breakthrough Award’ and ‘Critics’ Choice Award’ will all be revealed on the night.
You can vote here, but make sure to cast that ballot before November 4.