CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33 WINS GAME OF THE YEAR AT THE 2026 NEW YORK GAME AWARDS
The award show also featured the debut of a new song from Mega Ran, a tribute to the New York Game Awards’ 15th anniversary
NEW YORK – January 18, 2026 – The New York Videogame Critics Circle (NYVGCC) recognized the best games, actors, journalists and more during a special 15th anniversary celebration at the 2026 New York Game Awards. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 came away with the coveted Game of the Year Award, People Make Games received the prestigious Knickerbocker Award for Best Games Journalism, Ball x Pit took home the inaugural Excelsior Award for Best NY Game and The Pokémon Company was honored as the recipient of the 2026 Andrew Yoon Legend Award.
The 15th Annual New York Game Awards Winners:
Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Off Broadway Award for Best Indie Game
Blue Prince
Herman Melville Award for Best Writing in a Game
Blippo+
Statue of Liberty Award for Best World
Hades II
Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game
South of Midnight
Great White Way Award for Best Acting in a Game
Jennifer English as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Excelsior Award for Best NY Game
Ball x Pit
Coney Island Dreamland Award for Best AR/VR Game
Lumines Arise
Central Park Children’s Zoo Award for Best Kids Game
Donkey Kong Bananza
A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game
Is This Seat Taken?
High Line Award for Best Remake
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Chumley’s Speakeasy Award for Best Hidden Gem
News Tower
NYC GWB Award for Best DLC
Lies of P: Overture
Knickerbocker Award for Best Games Journalism
People Make Games
Andrew Yoon Legend Award Recipient
The Pokémon Company
In addition to the game awards, NYVGCC was honored with a proclamation from the New York City Council and received special remarks from Nintendo of America President and COO Devon Pritchard and former Andrew Yoon Legend winner and Head of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, in honor of its 15th anniversary.
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About New York Videogame Critics Circle
Based in Manhattan, the New York Videogame Critics Circle is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit multicultural organization comprised of 40 of the finest videogame critics, writers, reporters and bloggers in the nation. Members of the NYVGCC give back to their communities by providing scholarships, mentoring and community outreach to NYC schools students. The New York Videogame Critics Circle sees great benefit in advocating for those who are less fortunate.
