Spotlight Award winners.
| CATEGORY | WINNER |
| New Technology | N64 from Nintendo |
| Game of 1996 | Super Mario 64 |
| Use of Innovative Technology | Super Mario 64, for the N 64 |
| Console Game | Super Mario 64 |
| Online/Internet Game | Quake |
| Sound Effects | Quake |
| Music or Soundtrack | Quake |
| Trivia or Puzzle Game | You Don't Know Jack XL |
| Script, Story, or Interactive Writing | You Don't Know Jack XL |
| PC/Mac Game | Civilization II |
| Simulation Game | Mechwarrior II: Mercenaries |
| Strategy/War Game | C&C Red Alert |
| Arcade Game | Virtua Fighter 3 |
| Educational Game | Freddi Fish II |
| Action Game | Duke Nukem 3D |
| Sports Game | NHL Hockey '97 |
| Adventure Game/RPG | Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall |
| Prerendered Art | Zork Nemesis |
| Animation | Tomb Raider |
| Adaptation of Linear Media | I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream |
| Use of Video | Wing Commander IV |