The results of the 2026 Golden Joystick Awards Game of the Year vote have been officially announced. Capcom's Resident Evil: Requiem claimed the "Ultimate Game of the Year" with 17% of player votes, while the Chinese wuxia action game Phantom Blade Zero took second place with 16%, losing by just a single percentage point. Red Desert ranked third with 15%, marking the smallest margin among the top three contenders in recent years' Game of the Year races.
Following the announcement, the Phantom Blade Zero team responded, emphasizing that their core sentiment was not "regret" but rather "exceeding expectations." In their statement of gratitude, they pointed out that there were only 40 hours between the game's launch and the end of voting. Achieving second place under such tight constraints far exceeded the team's expectations, and they expressed thanks to all players who showed their support.
Phantom Blade Zero is the second domestic premium AAA single-player game to receive an ISBN license following Black MYTH - Steam Edition: Wukong. Featuring a "Kung Fu Punk" visual style, it blends traditional wuxia action with industrial mechanical aesthetics. The Golden Joystick Awards are determined by player voting; this year marks the 44th edition, with 21 award categories. In addition to Ultimate Game of the Year, Phantom Blade Zero was also nominated for Game of the Year.
For a title that reached the finals of an international awards vote just 40 hours after launch, the 1% margin may be more noteworthy than the ranking itself. The developers have stated: "We truly feel the love players have for our game."