Among big releases, Forza Horizon 6 is the best-reviewed game of 2026 so far, with 90 on Metacritic and 91 on OpenCritic, level with indie hit Mina the Hollower. Smaller games top the charts on fewer reviews: Sektori leads Metacritic at 93 and Mythmatch leads OpenCritic at 93. With The Game Awards on December 10 and nominees due in mid-November, here is where the Game of the Year race stands, using scores we checked on November 1, 2026, and why GTA 6 can still enter it.
The highest-scoring new games of 2026
New releases only. Remasters, remakes, ports and expansions are listed separately below. Metacritic scores come from each game’s main Metacritic page; OpenCritic “Top Critic Average” comes from its 2026 ranking. Both move as more reviews arrive.
| Game | Release | Metacritic | OpenCritic | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sektori | May 14 | 93 | n/a | Small sample: 10 critic reviews |
| Big Walk | Aug 4 | 91 | 89 | 30 critic reviews on Metacritic |
| Forza Horizon 6 | May 19 | 90 | 91 | Xbox Game Studios racer |
| Mina the Hollower | May 29 | 90 | 91 | Yacht Club Games |
| Resident Evil Requiem | Feb 27 | 89 | 89 | 141 critic reviews |
| Pokémon Pokopia | Mar 5 | 89 | 89 | Switch 2 |
| Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave | Sep 17 | 89 | 90 | Switch 2 |
| Schrödinger’s Call | May 28 | 89 | 90 | 21 critic reviews |
| Phantom Blade Zero | Oct 29 | 88 | 89 | PS5 and PC |
| Star Wars: Galactic Racer | Oct 6 | 88 | 87 | PC, PS5, Xbox |
| Mewgenics | Feb 10 | 88 | 89 | PC and consoles |
| Saros | Apr 30 | 87 | 87 | PS5, Housemarque |
| 007 First Light | May 27 | 87 | 87 | IO Interactive |
| Gears of War: E-Day | Oct 6 | 87 | 85 | Xbox and PC |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 | Oct 23 | 85 | 84 | 46 critic reviews on Metacritic |
On OpenCritic the top-rated new game is Mythmatch, a PC release at 93. “n/a” means the game did not have a matching entry we could confirm on OpenCritic. A score built on 10 reviews and one built on 140 are not equally reliable, so we show sample sizes where they are small.
Who are the real GOTY contenders?
Our math Game of the Year at The Game Awards rarely goes to the game with the single highest number. It usually goes to a high-scoring game that a lot of people played. Looking at 2026 that way:
- Resident Evil Requiem has the broadest critical base (141 reviews at 89) and came out early enough to be played by everyone.
- Forza Horizon 6 is the top-scoring big-budget game of the year on both aggregators.
- Pokémon Pokopia and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave give Nintendo two 89s on Switch 2.
- Mina the Hollower and Big Walk are the strongest indie cases.
- Phantom Blade Zero arrived on October 29 with 88/89, but reviews are split. Polygon noted IGN gave it 9 and GameSpot 8, while Eurogamer gave it 3 out of 5.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (85/84) is the year’s biggest launch so far, but its scores are below the others.
Some big games have not reached that level: Marvel’s Wolverine is at 75 on Metacritic, Control Resonant at 83 and Halo: Campaign Evolved at 81.
Can GTA 6 win Game of the Year 2026?
Official The Game Awards’ official FAQ says games released by Friday, November 20, 2026 at 9pm PT are eligible this year. GTA 6 launches on November 19, so it qualifies on the dates. The show is on Thursday, December 10 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, at 7:30pm ET. The FAQ says nominees will be announced in mid-November.
Our math The problem is time. Rockstar has not said when reviews will go live. If the jury votes on nominees before launch week, GTA 6 could miss the nomination round even though it is eligible. Winners are decided 90% by a jury of more than 100 outlets and 10% by fan voting, which closes on December 9. Our history of Rockstar review scores shows why it would be a favourite if it gets in: GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 both scored 97.
Remasters, remakes and expansions to watch
These scored very well but usually compete in other categories rather than Game of the Year:
- Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter (remake, Sep 17): 90 Metacritic, 92 OpenCritic.
- Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass, Part 1 (Aug 5): 88 OpenCritic.
- Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition (Jun 23): 87 OpenCritic.
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Mar 26): 86 OpenCritic.
Key Game Awards dates
| Date | Event | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-November | Nominees announced | Official exact date not yet on the FAQ |
| Nov 19 | GTA 6 launches | Official |
| Nov 20, 9pm PT | Eligibility cutoff | Official |
| Dec 9, 6pm PT | Fan voting closes | Official |
| Dec 10, 7:30pm ET | The Game Awards 2026 | Official |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-reviewed game of 2026?
Among big releases, Forza Horizon 6 (90 Metacritic, 91 OpenCritic). On Metacritic alone, the indie shooter Sektori leads with 93 from 10 reviews. Scores checked November 1, 2026.
Is GTA 6 eligible for Game of the Year 2026?
Yes on the dates. The Game Awards accepts games released by November 20, 2026 at 9pm PT, and GTA 6 launches November 19. Whether it is nominated depends on reviews and jury timing.
When are The Game Awards 2026 nominees announced?
The official FAQ says mid-November. The show is on December 10, 2026.
How is the Game of the Year winner chosen?
90% from a jury of more than 100 media outlets and 10% from fan voting, which closes on December 9 at 6pm PT.
What score did Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 get?
85 on Metacritic and 84 on OpenCritic, as of November 1, 2026.
Keep reading on HUDWire
Scores checked on Metacritic and OpenCritic on November 1, 2026. Chart: HUDWire.