Best Games Of The Year: The Steam Awards Winners

The Steam Awards, an annual celebration of gaming excellence, have once again brought the community together to vote for their favourite games. This year’s awards spanned a variety of categories, from the prestigious ‘Game of the Year’ and ‘VR Game of the Year’ to more unique accolades like the ‘Labor of Love’ award, recognising games that continue to thrive with ongoing support, and the ‘Sit Back and Relax’ award for the ultimate chill experiences.

Among the frontrunners this year were titles like Black Myth: Wukong, Balatro, Helldivers 2, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, each securing three nominations.

So let’s jump to the full list of winners and nominees below, with the winners highlighted in bold.

Game of the Year

• Black Myth: Wukong
• Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
• Balatro
• Helldivers 2
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

VR Game of the Year

• Metro Awakening VR
• Davigo
• Maestro
• Blade and Sorcery
• Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2

Labor of Love

• Stardew Valley
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Dota 2
• No Man’s Sky
• Elden Ring

Best Game on Steam Deck

• Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
• Balatro
• Hades 2
• God of War: Ragnarok
• Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

Better with Friends

• Palworld
• Helldivers 2
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
• Sons of the Forest
• Satisfactory

Outstanding Visual Style

• Silent Hill 2
• Neva
• Nine Sols
• Metaphor ReFantazio
• Hades 2

Most Innovative Gameplay

• Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
• Balatro
• Helldivers 2
• Liar’s Bar
• Satisfactory

Best Game You Suck At

• Black Myth Wukong
• Ghost of Tsushima
• Dragon Ball Sparking Zero
• The Finals
• Tekken 8

Best Soundtrack

• Silent Hill 2
• Red Dead Redemption
• Fate Stay Night
• Horizon Forbidden West
• Frostpunk 2

Outstanding Story-Rich Game

• Black Myth Wukong
• Ghost of Tsushima
• Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
• Mouthwashing
• Final Fantasy XVI

Sit Back and Relax

• Tiny Glade
• House Flipper 2
• Farming Simulator 25
• Webfishing
• TCG Card Shop Simulator