Based in Manhattan, the New York Videogame Critics Circle is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit multicultural organization comprised of 40 of the finest videogame critics, writers, reporters, and bloggers in the nation. Members of the NYVGCC give back to their communities by providing scholarships, mentoring, after-school classes, and community outreach to NYC school students.

Read by beloved Star Wars actor and voice actor Ahmed Best, and former NYVGCC intern and assistant producer at Lucasfilm, Kimari Rennis, the nominees were revealed during a livestream on the official NYVGCC YouTube channel. The event will honor The Pokémon Company as the 2026 recipient of the Andrew Yoon Legend Award. 

NYVGCC will introduce an entirely new award category for the 2026 New York Game Awards, giving more opportunities for excellence recognition in games. The new award category, the Excelsior Award for Best New York Game, recognizes games developed by studios based in New York. 

“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 Harold Goldberg, president and founder of NYVGCC. “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. Tickets for the show and GG Fest on January 17 are selling fast, so don’t miss your chance to be a part of something special in 2026!” 

The nominees for the 15th Annual New York Game Awards are:

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 2026 New York Game Awards takes place on Sunday, Jan. 18, at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan. The celebration officially kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 17, with the newly added GG Fest, featuring panel discussions from beloved game creators and an exclusive Supergiant Games: Unplugged concert from Darren Korb and Ashley Barrett. Tickets for the GG Fest and the NY Game Awards are available for purchase through Eventbrite for $80 each or in a bundle package for $140, which includes preferred seating at the NY Game Awards. Those unable to attend the awards in person can catch the livestream on the NYVGCC YouTube and Twitch