It’s that time of the year again, folks! The gamescom award 2026 nominations are out, and we get to see which games will be vying for the top spots. Because, you know, what’s a gaming convention without a bunch of awards to hand out? Leading the pack with five nominations is Metro: 2039 from 4A Games and Deep Silver, because who doesn’t love a good post-apocalyptic shooter? It’s nominated for Best Visuals and Most Epic categories, because those are the only categories that really matter, right? And, of course, it’s also nominated across all platforms it will be released on, because publishers love to hedge their bets.
The indie game Denshattack! from Undercoders and Fireshine Games is trailing closely behind with four nominations, because indie games are where it’s at these days. And, hey, Alien: Isolation 2 from Creative Assembly and SEGA also got four nominations, because survival horror is still a thing, apparently. Total War: Warhammer 40,000 from Creative Assembly and RGG Studio’s Stranger Than Heaven each got two nominations, because strategy and action games still have a place in this world. And, of course, Forza Horizon 6 from Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios got three nominations, because racing games are always a crowd-pleaser.
But wait, there’s more! The beautiful adventure-climbing sim Cairn from The Game Bakers is up for two nominations, because who doesn’t love a good climbing game? And, hey, SEGA as a publisher received eight total nominations, because they’re just that good, allegedly. Now, I know what you’re thinking – what about the other categories? Well, let me tell you, there are plenty of other games vying for awards in categories like Best Audio, Best Gameplay, and Most Wholesome. Because, you know, we need to make sure we have something for everyone.
Gamescom Award 2026 Nominees: A Long List of Games
The full list of nominees is a long and impressive one, with games like Alien: Isolation 2, Crimson Desert, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword all making appearances. And, of course, we have the obligatory Best Microsoft Xbox Game, Best PC Game, Best Sony PlayStation Game, and Best Nintendo Switch 2 Game categories, because exclusivity is still a thing. But what’s really interesting is the Games for Impact category, which features games like Fishbowl and OPUS: Prism Peak, which are actually trying to do something meaningful.
Voting: Because Your Opinion Matters (Sort Of)
Now, for those of you who actually care about the outcome of these awards, you can cast your votes for your favorite games in the ARTS and PLATFORM categories, as well as Best Booth (Consumer Award), Best Merch, and Best Trailer/Announcement. Voting will take place in-person via QR code, and on the official gamescom website, because who needs a simple voting system, anyway? And, hey, CGMagazine’s very own Editor-in-Chief is on the judging panel, so you know the awards are in good hands.
Conclusion: And the Winner Is…
So, there you have it, folks – the gamescom award 2026 nominations are out, and it’s time to place your bets. Will Metro: 2039 take home the top prize, or will some other game come out of nowhere to steal the show? Who knows, and who really cares? It’s all just a bunch of marketing fluff, anyway. But hey, at least we get to enjoy some good games out of it, right? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go vote for my favorite game – you know, the one that’s going to change the world with its innovative gameplay and stunning graphics. Yeah, right.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
