Meet the winners of the Steam Awards

The Steam Awards were born in 2016 as a Valve initiative to give players a direct voice. Unlike other awards such as The Game Awards or the Golden Joystick, there are no specialized juries here: the community decides.

• Gamer democracy: Every vote counts, and the results usually reflect authentic trends from the audience.
• Commercial impact: Winning a Steam Award is not only prestigious, it also boosts sales during the winter sales.
• Category diversity: From hardcore games to relaxing experiences, the awards cover all kinds of audiences.

In 2025, participation was historic, with more than 43 million votes, consolidating Steam as the platform with the greatest direct interaction between players and developers.

Highlighted Winners

• Hollow Knight: Silksong: The big winner, with two key awards (Game of the Year and Best Game You’re Bad At). Its success confirms that metroidvanias remain a cult genre with huge traction.
• Baldur’s Gate 3: Although released in 2023, it remains relevant thanks to its active community and expansions, earning the Labor of Love award.
• Hades II: Recognized as the best game for Steam Deck, showing how roguelikes adapt perfectly to portable play.
• Silent Hill f: Its disturbing and unique aesthetic earned it the Outstanding Visual Style award, marking the triumphant return of the saga to psychological horror.

All the winners of the Steam Awards 2025

Category	Winner
Game of the Year (GOTY)	Hollow Knight: Silksong
VR Game of the Year	The Midnight Walk
Labor of Love	Baldur’s Gate 3
Best Game on Steam Deck	Hades II
Better with Friends	Peak
Outstanding Visual Style	Silent Hill f
Most Innovative Gameplay	ARC Raiders
Best Game You’re Bad At	Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Soundtrack	Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Outstanding Story-Rich Game	Dispatch
Most Relaxing Game	Kingdom Come Deliverance II

Silksong: Staying True to Its Roots and a Community Triumph

Beyond the awards won, Hollow Knight: Silksong became a phenomenon within the indie scene. Its arrival not only met fans’ expectations but also reignited interest in metroidvanias in a market dominated by big productions. The precision of its design, its immersive atmosphere, and its finely tuned difficulty turned it into an immediate benchmark for developers and players alike.

Recognition at the Steam Awards 2025 confirms that indie titles can compete head-to-head with AAA productions, and that the community is willing to reward creativity and authenticity over budget. Silksong not only won, but also inspired a whole new generation of studios to bet on bold projects with their own identity.

Final Reflection

The Steam Awards 2025 made it clear that the community values both innovation and long-term consistency. The triumph of Hollow Knight: Silksong shows that staying true to its roots and offering fair prices strengthens player loyalty. At the same time, titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Hades II confirm that longevity and the ability to adapt to new platforms and audiences are decisive factors for remaining relevant in an increasingly competitive industry.

The Steam Awards 2025 reflect the strength of their community.