Staff members at gamespot.com and gamersaur.com released one-sentence recommendations on November 8, 2026, for titles players should experience before casting their votes at the upcoming Game Awards.
Recommended Titles for Voting Season
- GameSpot and Gamersaur reported that the staff recommendations highlight both potential Game of the Year contenders and lesser-known independent projects.
- The curated list spans various genres, including farming life-sims, retro job simulators, extraction shooters, and narrative RPGs.
- Featured developers range from independent creators to major studios like Bungie and Remedy Entertainment.
Staff Picks Across Genres
Mark Delaney recommended several titles, including Retro Rewind: Video Store Simulator for PC, calling it his favorite job sim about running a 90s video rental shop after a major video game update. For cooperative play, Delaney pointed to Big Walk on PC, PS5, and Switch 2 as a puzzle-filled island hike for up to 11 friends.
Remedy’s upcoming superhero project, Control Resonant, was described by Delaney on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5 as a take on Infamous infused with studio quirks. He also highlighted the early access title Far West on PC, comparing its core to Helldivers 2 set in a cartoonish Western, alongside Bungie’s extraction shooter Marathon on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.
Jessica Cogswell offered selections emphasizing life-sims and narrative adventures, reporting that Fields of Mistria on PC stands out as the greatest farming life-sim due to its 80s and 90s shōjo anime-inspired art style. Cogswell also recommended The Blood of Dawnwalker on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5 as a vampire-focused alternative to The Witcher featuring a time management system.
Additional picks from Cogswell include the early access life-sim Paralives on PC, the viral title Meccha Chameleon on PC and Switch 2, and the action game 007: First Light across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.
Darryn Bonthuys selected fast-paced action games, highlighting Denshattack across PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Switch 2 as a cel-shaded on-rails adventure involving a train. Bonthuys also recommended the samurai combat title Onimusha: Way of the Sword across PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Switch 2, alongside Poncle’s dungeon crawler follow-up Vampire Crawlers available across PC, consoles, and mobile platforms.
Card Games and Tactical Adventures
Chris Pereira focused on atmospheric and strategy titles, recommending Forbidden Solitaire on PC for its 90s-style presentation of a demonic card game. Pereira also pointed players toward Esoteric Ebb on PC as a text-based RPG sharing similarities with Disco Elysium, the exploration game Over Hill on PC, and the early access co-op deckbuilder Slay the Spire 2 on PC.
Steve Watts rounded out the broader selections with retro-inspired platformers and racing titles, suggesting Mina the Hollower across multiple console platforms and PC, alongside the cozy building title Pokemon Pokopia on Switch 2.
Watts also highlighted the arcade roguelite racer Star Wars: Galactic Racer on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5, alongside Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse across PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Switch, and the platforming survivorslike Blood Dungeon across PC, consoles, and Switch 2.
| Game Title | Genre Focus | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Retro Rewind: Video Store Simulator | Job Simulator | PC |
| Big Walk | Cooperative Puzzle | PC, PS5, Switch 2 |
| Control Resonant | Action Adventure | PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 |
| Marathon | Extraction Shooter | PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 |
| Fields of Mistria | Farming Life-Sim | PC |
Gabe Gurwin and Ashley Oh contributed staff choices. Gurwin highlighted Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5, the soulslike sequel Nioh 3 on PC and PS5, Housemarque’s bullet-hell title Saros on PS5, and the XCOM-style tactical game Star Wars Zero Company across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.
Oh recommended the cartoon noir first-person shooter Mouse: P.I. For Hire across PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch, and Switch 2.
