The Game Awards uses two different systems: for most categories, a jury selects nominees and a final vote weighted 90% jury to 10% public; Players’ Voice is a separate award decided entirely by fans. The rules below reflect the official information for the 2025 process. The 2026 ceremony is scheduled for December 10, but the official sources cited here do not establish that year’s fan-voting dates.
How are nominees chosen?
For most categories, The Game Awards uses an international jury of more than 100 media and influencer outlets. Each outlet submits a confidential, unranked ballot based on the collective opinion of its editorial staff, listing five choices in each category. The five games appearing on the most ballots become nominees; a tie can expand the field to six or more. The Game Awards FAQ
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This is a ballot-frequency process, not a public vote to determine the nominees. The published rules describe each outlet listing five choices, but do not state a points system or ranking-based weighting.
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Specialist categories use specialist juries
The main jury is not the only group involved in every category. The FAQ says specialized juries convene for areas including esports, accessibility and Best Adaptation; the official jury page separately describes specialist accessibility and esports juries.
#1 Best Overall
- Bird Collecting: You are bird enthusiasts - researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors - seeking to discover and attract a beautiful and diverse network of birds to your wildlife preserve.
- Build Your Engine: Gain food tokens via custom dice in a birdfeeder dice tower, lay eggs using egg miniatures in a variety of colors, draw from over 170 unique bird cards and play them. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats. Earn points, play new birds, help others, and many other abilities!
- Award Winning: WIngspan is the 2019 winner of the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres award, along with many others!
- High Replayability: WIth 170 unique bird cards, 26 bonus goal cards, and 8 goal tiles, Wingspan provides endless opportunities for bird combinations and goal achievements, making this a great gift for families, teenagers, students, couples, and anyone who loves birds and nature.
- For families, solo gamers, and game groups alike: This medium weight, set collection and hand management strategy game for 1-5 players has a 60-90 minute playing time with only a 6 minute setup time. Great game for couples, solo gamers, 2 players, family, and friends. Includes swift-start pack for first time player guidance.
Who does not vote?
The FAQ says producer Geoff Keighley is not a jury member and does not vote on nominees or winners. It also says the advisory board has no role in the process and learns the results when the public does. The Game Awards FAQ
How are winners chosen?
For the main category awards, The Game Awards says the winner is determined by a blended vote: 90% jury and 10% public fan voting. Fans can vote on TheGameAwards.com and, in China, through Bilibili and other platforms. The Game Awards FAQ
Rank #2
- MONOGAMY BOARD GAME: It's so hard to put into words just how good the Monogamy board game is and why it works so well, you won’t fully appreciate just how dynamic it is until you play it
- ANNIVERSARY GIFTS FOR MEN AND WOMEN: Struggling to find an anniversary gifts for Men or women, or special Christmas gifts for women or Chistmas gifts for men? This board game is for you
- EXPLORE YOUR RELATIONSHIP: The Monogamy board game allows you to try new things together, set aside time for one another, and have fun while you're at it
- BOARD GAME: The Monogamy board game is so much more than just your typical board game, it's an exhilarating exchange on multiple levels that you share with the most important person in your life
- BRING YOU CLOSER: The Monogamy board game has already improved over two million relationships; make yours next! Whether its anniversary gifts for men, women or any occasion you’re celebrating, this game is truly a game changer.
The 90/10 split describes the overall weighting, not a promise that a particular number of fan votes will change the result. The published FAQ does not explain a formula for translating ballots into the final combined result.
The organizers say a fully public vote could disadvantage games exclusive to one platform and that they want to avoid winners being socially engineered. They describe the blended system as their preferred way to select winners; that is the organizers’ rationale, not an independently established finding. The Game Awards FAQ
Rank #3
- AWARD-WINNING STRATEGY BOARD GAME: Azul won the 2018 Spiel des Jahres. This draft and place game is inspired by Portuguese mosaic tiles to outscore rivals in this acclaimed game for adults and families
- TILE PLACEMENT & MOSAIC ART: Select tiles from shared factory displays, complete pattern rows, and build your stunning mosaic wall. Every placement decision shapes your score and your board
- BOARD GAMES FOR ADULTS & FAMILIES: Easy rules get you playing in minutes, yet deep tile placement strategy and draft & deny mechanics create satisfying complexity for experienced adult board gamers
- PERFECT BOARD GAME FOR TWO ADULTS: Azul shines in head-to-head 2-player duels and scales brilliantly to 3 or 4 players. New tile combinations each round make every game a fresh, replayable challenge
- GREAT GIFT ADULT BOARD GAME: Designed for 2-4 players ages 8 and up, 30-45 minutes playtime. Azul is consistently a top-rated mosaic board game worthy of any collection, family game night at home, road trips, vacations or gifts
Is Players’ Voice the same as the main awards?
No. Players’ Voice is a separate award that The Game Awards describes as 100% fan voted. Its result is not subject to the main categories’ 90% jury and 10% fan weighting. The official Players’ Voice page
For the 2025 bracket, fans selected 10 games from 30 in round one, five from 10 in round two, and one from five in round three. Those are the 2025 mechanics; they should not be assumed to apply to a later year unless the organizers announce them again. The official Players’ Voice page
Rank #4
- AWARD-WINNING STRATEGY GAME: Spy Alley Won Mensa’s Best Mind Game, a highly sought-after award only few games ever win. Spy Alley was also named Australian Game of the Year, as well as one of the Chicago Tribune’s Top Ten Games and Family Life’s Best Learning Toy, among many others.
- HIGH REPLAYABILITY FOR ALL AGES: Like beloved classics such as Chess, Checkers, and Risk, Spy Alley was designed for Adults and Families. Players can use as much or as little strategy as they would like, making it the perfect game to revisit year after year.
- THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT & GATHERING GAME: This classic strategy game is an ideal gift for teens, families, and adults. Ensure your winter break and holiday parties are filled with high-stakes fun and memory-making. Give the gift of a trusted, multi-generational classic.
- TIMELESS HIDDEN IDENTITY CLASSIC: For over 30 years, families across the globe have enjoyed the thrill of this classic game of deduction and misdirection. Master the art of suspense, intrigue, and espionage in this iconic game, enjoyed by generations.
- COINCIDENCE OR COVERUP: The game's designer, William Stephenson, shares his namesake with the legendary WWII Spymaster Sir William Stephenson, Code Name: INTREPID. This fun coincidence is what gives the game its unique personality and pays tribute to the true legacy of espionage that inspired our favorite spy James Bond and brings the thrill of a spy movie to your table.
What is known about voting for The Game Awards 2026?
The official site lists the 2026 ceremony for December 10, 2026. The FAQ available for this article displays 2025 voting information, so its dates should not be carried over as 2026 deadlines. The sources cited here do not establish when 2026 fan voting opens or closes. The Game Awards · FAQ
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Strategy Game: Qwirkle is the perfect game to hone player's tactical maneuvers, strategical planning, and forward thinking. This family game features a massive amount of choices, including 3 tiles each of 36 possible color-symbol combinations
- Easy to learn: An engaging game with easy to follow rules, Qwirkle is great for younger players while still challenging them mentally. Simply build lines by matching tiles based on either color or shape, and score points as you go
- Games that teach: Qwirkle is playable from early ages up, allowing young children and older individuals alike to develop and hone their spacial recognition, planning, and problem solving skills. Plan, win, and learn simultaneously
- Family favorite: Qwirkle is a fantastic game for families, as it can involve a wide range of ages, from children to adults. It only takes a few moments to explain, so new players, like extended family or your child's friends, can jump right in
- Award winning: This game has won multiple awards including the Major Fun Award, National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval, Parents' Choice Gold Award, and more. Includes 108 wooden Qwirkle tiles, 1 drawstring bag, and 1 rule book
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