BONFIRE BRAISE: FromSoftware Grabs the Head Chef's Hat as Larian Rolls the Dice at the Next Station

Aprons on, controllers up. Six of the biggest kitchens in gaming have walked into my studio, and the crowd wants to know whose house style tastes best in 2026: the worldbuilding, the design, the pacing, the tone. On the menu: FromSoftware, Nintendo EPD, Blizzard, Rockstar Games, Larian Studios and CD Projekt Red. The ovens have been on for less than a day. I can already smell smoke.

Let's read the CVs before anyone plates up. According to Wikipedia's record of the ceremony, Larian's Baldur's Gate 3 took the top prize at The Game Awards for 2023, and FromSoftware is the only developer to win Game of the Year there more than once, with two wins from five nominations. Wikipedia also credits FromSoftware's high difficulty and environmental storytelling with creating the whole Soulslike subgenre, and Elden Ring drew plenty of comparisons with Zelda: Breath of the Wild and praise for its art direction. CD Projekt Red is still in the conversation too: Metacritic's 2026 list of top-rated releases includes a remastered The Witcher 3 averaging a score in the low nineties. One caveat before you start throwing pans: trophies and critic scores tell you what juries and reviewers liked. They don't measure what players actually feel.

Measuring what players feel is the crowd's job, and on the opinion markets at Morfi the first verdict is in. FromSoftware leads on 39% consensus with 7 holders, and Larian Studios sits behind it on 37% with 5 holders. Further back, nibbling the bread basket, are 4 other sides. So far 14 traders have put $380,501 behind their opinions. That lines up neatly with the trophy cabinet: the studio with two Game of the Year wins is ahead of the studio with one. The crowd seems to rate a track record.

Now for my tasting notes, and these are opinions, darlings, so put the forks down. FromSoftware cooks a dish that bites back: bitter, smoky, served on a plate that's on fire, and somehow you keep coming back for one more mouthful. That's a style. Larian is the generous family feast where every guest gets to change the recipe halfway through, and frankly I find that romantic. Rockstar, I'd argue, is the slow-roasted brisket nobody has been allowed to taste in years, and Nintendo is the perfect omelette that critics forget because it makes it look easy. My verdict for now: FromSoftware deserves the hat. Its flavour is unmistakable, and in this kitchen being unmistakable is everything.

But it's opening night and nothing has been plated yet. Keep an eye on whether Nintendo EPD and Rockstar fans turn up late and tip the whole table, and whether Larian's supporters can close the gap before the bonfire burns out. Think your favourite studio cooks better? Then pick up a spoon: join the market on Morfi, back your opinion, and let the crowd taste the difference.