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The finalists for the 49th annual Origins Awards – one of the tabletop gaming industry’s most prestigious accolades – have recently been announced by the Game Manufacturer’s Association (GAMA). The nominees in the TTRPG space are divided into two categories: Roleplaying Game of the Year and Roleplaying Supplement of the Year, representing a mix of some of the biggest names in the TTRPG hobby along with a handful lesser known indie titles.
Winners will be announced at the upcoming 2026 Origins Game Fair later this summer. Below, we open the envelope and take a look at all the finalists.
What are the Origins Awards?
The Origins Awards are an annual honors program that recognizes excellence in the tabletop gaming industry, covering categories including board games, card games, miniatures and roleplaying games. First presented in 1975 at the inaugural Origins Game Fair in Baltimore, the awards are currently managed by the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) through its administrative branch, the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design (AAGAD).
The selection process for the awards involves a multi-tiered system where a jury of industry professionals evaluates submissions to determine a shortlist of finalists. Once the finalists are announced, members of the Academy (composed of retailers, designers, and other industry veterans) cast their votes to determine the winners. These winners are presented with a “Calliope” statuette (often referred to as a “Callie”) during an annual ceremony held at the Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to the category-specific prizes, the program also oversees the Hall of Fame, which honors individuals and landmark games that have had a significant historical impact on the industry.
Who are the finalists for Roleplaying Game of the Year?
This category honors the best “core” RPG experiences released over the past year. The 2026 finalists are as follows:
- Age of Vikings (Chaosium)
- CHEW: The Roleplaying Game (Imagining Games)
- Coriolis: The Great Dark (Free League)
- Cthulhu Bay (MS Edizioni and Ares Games)
- Daggerheart Core Set (Darrington Press)
- Land of Eem Deluxe Box Set (Exalted Funeral)
- Cosmere RPG Stormlight Starter Set (Brotherwise Games)
- Starfinder Second Edition (Paizo Publishing)
- The Bonsai Diary (Gene Koo)
- Warhammer: The Old World Roleplaying Game Player’s Guide (Cubicle 7)
Who are the finalists for Roleplaying Supplement of the Year?
The best roleplaying supplement finalists for 2026 include:
- Advent-ure Calendar 19: Kitty Clacks Christmas (Black Oak Workshop)
- ALIEN RPG: Rapture Protocol (Free League)
- Call of Cthulhu: The Sutra of Pale Leaves – Twin Suns Rising (Chaosium)
- Cthulhu by Gaslight: Keeper’s Guide (Chaosium)
- Full Art Dice Set: Porcelain (Q Workshop)
- Green Oaks (MS Edizioni and Ares Games)
- Pendragon: Gamemaster’s Handbook (Chaosium)
- The Field Guide to Floral Dragons: Explorer’s Box Set (Hit Point Press)
- The Vault of Mini Things (Tinkerhouse Games)
- Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay: High Elf Player’s Guide (Cubicle 7)
Final Thoughts
The list of finalists for this year’s is a solid mix of TTRPG heavy hitters like Daggerheart and Starfinder 2e, along with some under-the-radar indie titles like Green Oaks and Cthulhu Bay.
Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long to find out who takes home the gold. The 49th annual winners will be officially announced at the Origins Game Fair, which takes place from June 17th to 21st, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio.