The nominees for the UK's 2012 Golden Joystick awards have been unveiled.

This year, the public can vote in new categories such as Best Mobile/Tablet Game and Best Browser/Flash game.

These new categories join a rank of existing awards that includes Best Downloadable Game and Best Handheld Game.

Golden Joystick's organisers have assembled a shortlist of games in each of its 16 categories, and gamers now have the opportunity to vote for their favourites in advance of the ceremony itself – which will be staged at the Park Plaza Westminster in London on 26 October 2012.

The candidates

In the Best Mobile/Tablet Game category, the public can vote from a sizeable shortlist of iOS and Android games including Tiger Style's Waking Mars, Chair's Infinity Blade 2, Imangi Studios' Temple Run and NimbleBit's Pocket Planes.

The Best Handheld Game shortlist includes three of the Vita's early hits – Wipeout 2048, Gravity Rush and Uncharted: Golden Abyss – as well as five 3DS titles, including Super Mario 3D Land, Kid Icarus: Uprising and Resident Evil: Revelations.

What's more, Resident Evil and Kid Icarus are both also in the running for the Ultimate Game of the Year award – a category that will see them competing for a prize against the likes of Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3 and Skyrim.

But wait, there's more

These aren't the only categories which see mobile and social games in the running, though.
Draw Something and Kingdom Rush are up for the Best Brower/Flash Game award, and Capybara Games' Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP is nominated for a Best Downloadable Game gong.

To peruse the full list of categories and nominees, or to cast your own votes, head on over to the Golden Joystick 2012 website.