As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The winners of the 49th annual Origins Awards – one of the tabletop gaming industry’s most prestigious accolades – have finally been announced. The awards were handed out at the annual Origins Game Fair (which ran from June 17-21 in Columbus Ohio), with finalists having previously been announced by the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) back in March 2026.
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 of lesser-known indie titles.
Below, we open the envelopes and take a look at who took home one of the biggest prizes in the TTRPG industry.
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 won the 2026 Origins Award for Roleplaying Game of the Year?
This category honors the best “core” RPG experiences released over the past year. The winner is the Land of Eem Deluxe Box Set by Exalted Funeral.
Notably, Land of Eem is a rules-light TTRPG created by authors Ben Costa and James Parks (and based on their Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo graphic novels). It’s described as a lighthearted blend of Lord of the Rings and The Muppets, with a dash of Adventure Time thrown in for good measure. Notably, Land of Eem also made our list for one of the best new TTRPGs of 2025.
The other 2026 nominees in the category were:
- 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)
- 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 won the 2026 Origins Award for Roleplaying Supplement of the Year?
This category honors the best supplements within the industry. The winner of the 2026 award goes to Call of Cthulhu: The Sutra of Pale Leaves – Twin Suns Rising from Chaosium.
The Sutra of Pale Leaves – Twin Suns Rising is a campaign supplement for the Call of Cthulhu RPG, set in 1980s Japan. It reimagines the iconic King in Yellow mythos by having a lost, ancient scroll resurface with ties to a sinister entity. The book features three interconnected scenarios and, in addition to featuring many of the familiar Lovecraftian tropes, also explores the unique cultural and historical setting (which is a radical departure from the traditional 1920s setting of New England).
The other 2026 nominees in the category were:
- Advent-ure Calendar 19: Kitty Clacks Christmas (Black Oak Workshop)
- ALIEN RPG: Rapture Protocol (Free League)
- 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 nominees for the 2026 Origins Award for Roleplaying Game of the Year included some TTRPG heavy hitters like Daggerheart and Starfinder 2e, but it’s great to see an indie title like Land of Eem pick up the award.
On the supplement side, it’s also fantastic to see Twin Suns Rising pick up the award, given that it’s an adventure from a well known publisher that manages to take a lot of risk and push Call of Cthulhu in an interesting new direction.
You can learn more about the past and present winners on the official Origins Awards website.