Media reviews for Marvel's Wolverine have been released, with a current Metacritic score of 78. The title is unlikely to secure a Game of the Year nomination at The Game Awards 2026, potentially ending Sony's 11-year streak of receiving nominations in this category.
Some reviewers felt that the game's relentless combat could become tiresome, and opinions on its narrative were divided. Polygon's review labeled it "the most disappointing title of the PS5 era."
Based on this, Polygon considers Marvel's Wolverine unlikely to be nominated for Game of the Year. The Game Awards jury primarily consists of international gaming media outlets, and no game with a Metacritic score below 80 has ever been nominated for Game of the Year. Licensed adaptations are also rarely nominated, with Insomniac Games' Marvel's Spider-Man series being a notable exception.
The Game Awards was first held in 2014, with no Sony-published titles nominated for Game of the Year that year. Over the following 11 years, Sony had 14 titles nominated and won Game of the Year three times with God of War, The Last of Us Part II, and Astro Bot. Sony has also had two nominees in the same year on three occasions, while Nintendo has achieved this twice.
These nominees are predominantly cinematic action-adventure games, including Uncharted, The Last of Us, God of War, Horizon, Marvel's Spider-Man, Death Stranding, and Ghost of Tsushima. Sony has also received nominations for Astro Bot, Ratchet & Clank, and Bloodborne.
According to Polygon, with Marvel's Wolverine effectively out of contention, Sony's best hope for continuing its streak in 2026 lies with Saros Cycle, developed by Housemarque. The title currently holds a Metacritic score of 87, but its appeal may be limited; the same studio's Returnal also failed to secure a Game of the Year nomination in 2021.