Polygon Highlights GTA VI’s Impact on Game of the Year Award Competition

GTA VI could emerge as a leading contender for Game of the Year because 2026 is already being called one of the weakest years for the GOTY race in recent memory.

Last year saw the release of many highly acclaimed games, with Metacritic featuring a strong lineup of projects averaging above 90 points. Strong releases are not lacking in 2026 either, but according to a Polygon editor, few of them are truly flawless.

Critics have currently awarded 90+ scores to seven games, though DOOM: The Dark Ages: Revelations is an expansion and Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is a port. Players have given such scores to only three titles. Many projects received scores between 8.5 and 8.9, but they carry noticeable flaws.

At the same time, Crimson Desert was received significantly better by users than by critics, while Pokémon Pokopia represents a simulation genre that is not overly popular among journalists. Big Walk and Mina the Hollower remain relatively unknown to a broad audience despite their success.

In the opinion of the Polygon author, the only undisputed candidate right now is Resident Evil Requiem. The situation could change with upcoming releases, including Marvel’s Wolverine and Silent Hill: Townfall.

GTA VI will likely miss the nomination window for The Game Awards. If the game is included anyway, the competition will become even weaker.