# The Steam Awards

The Steam Awards are an annual user-voted award event for video games published on Valve's Steam service. Introduced in 2016, game nomination and voting periods are concurrent with Steam's annual autumn and winter holiday sales, centered around the holidays of American Thanksgiving and Christmas.

## Format

The Steam Awards are selected in two phases. In the first phase, Valve selects a number of categories, atypical of those used in gaming awards, and allows any registered Steam user to select one game available on Steam for that category. Valve subsequently reviews the nominations and then selects the top five games for final voting. These nominations are then presented to Steam users, giving them the opportunity to vote in each category. Following this, Valve announces the winners. Game nomination and voting periods are concurrent with Steam's annual autumn and winter holiday sales, centered around the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

## Awards
### 2016

The nomination process took place from November 23–29, 2016. The voting took place from December 22–30, 2016, with the winners announced on December 31. The awards received around 15 million nominations.
| The 'Villain Most In Need Of A Hug' Award | The 'I Thought This Game Was Cool Before It Won An Award' Award |
| Portal 2 Borderlands 2 Dead by Daylight Far Cry 3 Far Cry 4 | Euro Truck Simulator 2 Paladins Starbound Stardew Valley Unturned |
| The 'Test of Time' Award | The 'Just 5 More Minutes' Award |
| The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Age of Empires II HD Sid Meier's Civilization V Team Fortress 2 Terraria | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Fallout 4 Rocket League Sid Meier's Civilization VI Terraria |
| The 'Whoooaaaaaaa, dude!' Award | The 'Game Within A Game Award' Award |
| Grand Theft Auto V BioShock Infinite Doom Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Grand Theft Auto V Garry’s Mod The Stanley Parable Tabletop Simulator The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt |
| The 'I'm Not Crying, There's Something In My Eye' Award | The 'Best Use Of A Farm Animal' Award |
| The Walking Dead Life Is Strange This War of Mine To the Moon Undertale | Goat Simulator ARK: Survival Evolved Blood and Bacon Farming Simulator 17 Stardew Valley |
| The 'Boom Boom' Award (community created) | The 'Love/Hate Relationship' Award (community created) |
| Doom BroForce Just Cause 3 Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes Kerbal Space Program | Dark Souls III Darkest Dungeon Dota 2 Geometry Dash Super Meat Boy |
| The 'Sit Back and Relax' Award (community created) | The 'Better With Friends' Award (community created) |
| Euro Truck Simulator 2 Abzu Cities Skylines Mini Metro Viridi | Left 4 Dead 2 Don't Starve Together Gang Beasts Golf with Your Friends Magicka |

### 2017

The nomination process took place from November 22–28, 2017. The voting took place from December 20, 2017, to January 2, 2018, with the winners announced on January 3.
| The 'Choices Matter' Award | The 'Mom's Spaghetti' Award |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Dishonored 2 Divinity: Original Sin 2 Life Is Strange: Before the Storm The Walking Dead: A New Frontier | PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Alien: Isolation The Evil Within 2 Outlast 2 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard |
| The 'Labor of Love' Award | The 'Suspension of Disbelief' Award |
| Warframe Crusader Kings II Path of Exile Team Fortress 2 Titan Quest | Rocket League Goat Simulator Saints Row IV South Park: The Fractured but Whole Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus |
| 'The World Is Grim Enough Let's Just All Get Along' Award | The 'No Apologies' Award |
| Stardew Valley Abzû Cities: Skylines Slime Rancher To the Moon | The Witcher HuniePop Gothic II Mount & Blade: Warband Rust |
| The 'Defies Description' Award | The 'Cry Havoc And Let Slip The Dogs Of War' Award |
| Garry's Mod Antichamber Doki Doki Literature Club Pony Island The Stanley Parable | Just Cause 3 Broforce Middle-earth: Shadow of War Red Faction: Guerrilla Total War: Warhammer II |
| The 'Haunts My Dreams' Award | The 'Soul of Vitruvius' Award |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Dark Souls III Dota 2 Factorio Sid Meier's Civilization VI | Rise of the Tomb Raider Bayonetta Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice I am Bread Nier: Automata |
| The 'Whoooaaaaaaa, Dude! 2.0' Award | The 'Best Soundtrack' Award (community created) |
| The Evil Within 2 Antichamber CPU Invaders Hotline Miami Luna | Cuphead Crypt of the Necrodancer Nier: Automata Transistor Undertale |
| The 'Even Better Than I Expected' Award ||
| Cuphead Assassin's Creed Origins Call of Duty: WWII Hollow Knight Sonic Mania ||

### 2018

The nomination process began on November 21, 2018. Finalists were revealed in December, with the winners announced during a live broadcast on Steam.tv on February 8, 2019. 2018 Steam Awards introduced the "Game of the Year" category.
| The "Game of the Year" Award | The "VR Game of the Year" Award |
| PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Assassin's Creed Odyssey Hitman 2 Kingdom Come: Deliverance Monster Hunter: World | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR Beat Saber Fallout 4 VR Superhot VR VRChat |
| The "Labor of Love" Award | The "Best Developer" Award |
| Grand Theft Auto V Dota 2 No Man's Sky Path of Exile Stardew Valley | CD Projekt Red Bandai Namco Entertainment Bethesda Capcom Digital Extremes Klei Paradox Interactive Rockstar Games Square Enix Ubisoft |
| The "Best Environment" Award | The "Better With Friends" Award |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Dark Souls III Far Cry 5 Shadow of the Tomb Raider Subnautica | Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Dead by Daylight Overcooked! 2 Payday 2 |
| The "Best Alternate History" Award | The "Most Fun with a Machine" Award |
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey Civilization VI Fallout 4 Hearts of Iron IV Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus | Rocket League Euro Truck Simulator 2 Factorio Nier: Automata Space Engineers |

### 2019

The nomination process began on November 26, 2019. Finalists were revealed starting on December 11, 2019, with one category a day. Unlike previous years, eligibility for awards was restricted by release date, with only games released after November 2018 able to be nominated, except for the "Labor of Love" category. Users were able to vote from December 19–31, with the winners announced on the final day.
| The "Game of the Year" Award | The "VR Game of the Year" Award |
| Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Destiny 2 Devil May Cry 5 Resident Evil 2 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order | Beat Saber Blade and Sorcery Borderlands 2 VR Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted Gorn |
| The "Labor of Love" Award | The "Better With Friends" Award |
| Grand Theft Auto V Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Dota 2 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Warframe | DayZ Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Dota Underlords Ring of Elysium Risk of Rain 2 |
| The "Most Innovative Gameplay" Award | The "Outstanding Story-Rich Game" Award |
| My Friend Pedro Baba Is You Oxygen Not Included Planet Zoo Slay the Spire | A Plague Tale: Innocence Disco Elysium Far Cry New Dawn Gears 5 GreedFall |
| The "Best Game You Suck At" Award | The "Outstanding Visual Style" Award |
| Mortal Kombat 11 Code Vein Hunt: Showdown Mordhau Remnant: From the Ashes | Gris Astroneer Katana Zero Subnautica: Below Zero Total War: Three Kingdoms |

### 2020

The nomination process began on November 25, 2020, with winners announced on January 3, 2021. Nominees for each category were announced daily starting on December 17, 2020, with voting commencing between December 22 and January 3.
| Game of the Year Award | VR Game of the Year |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 Death Stranding Doom Eternal Fall Guys Hades | Half-Life: Alyx Phasmophobia Star Wars: Squadrons The Room VR: A Dark Matter Thief Simulator |
| Labor of Love Award | Better With Friends |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Among Us No Man's Sky Terraria The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Fall Guys Borderlands 3 Deep Rock Galactic Risk of Rain 2 Sea of Thieves |
| Outstanding Visual Style Award | Most Innovative Gameplay Award |
| Ori and the Will of the Wisps Battlefield V Black Mesa Marvel's Avengers There Is No Game: Jam Edition 2015 | Death Stranding Control Noita Superliminal Teardown |
| Best Game You Suck At Award | Best Soundtrack Award |
| Apex Legends Crusader Kings III FIFA 21 GTFO Ghostrunner | Doom Eternal Halo: The Master Chief Collection Helltaker Need for Speed Heat Persona 4 Golden |
| Outstanding Story-Rich Award | Sit Back and Relax Award |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 Detroit: Become Human Horizon Zero Dawn Mafia: Definitive Edition Metro Exodus | The Sims 4 Factorio Microsoft Flight Simulator Satisfactory Untitled Goose Game |

### 2021

Nominees were announced on December 22, 2021, with voting commencing until January 3, 2022.
| Game of the Year | VR Game of the Year |
| Resident Evil Village Cyberpunk 2077 Forza Horizon 5 New World Valheim | Cooking Simulator VR Blair Witch VR I Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the Liar Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond Sniper Elite VR |
| Labor of Love | Better With Friends |
| Terraria Apex Legends Dota 2 No Man's Sky Rust | It Takes Two Back 4 Blood Crab Game Halo Infinite Valheim |
| Outstanding Visual Style | Most Innovative Gameplay |
| Forza Horizon 5 Bright Memory: Infinite Little Nightmares 2 Psychonauts 2 Subnautica: Below Zero | Deathloop 12 Minutes Inscryption Loop Hero Moncage |
| Best Game You Suck At | Best Soundtrack |
| Nioh 2 Age of Empires 4 Battlefield 2042 Naraka: Bladepoint World War Z: Aftermath | Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles Guilty Gear: Strive Nier Replicant Persona 5 Strikers |
| Outstanding Story-Rich Game | Sit Back and Relax |
| Cyberpunk 2077 Days Gone Life Is Strange: True Colors Mass Effect: Legendary Edition Resident Evil Village | Farming Simulator 22 Dorfromantik Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator Townscaper Unpacking |

### 2022

The nomination process took place from November 22–29, 2022. Nominees were announced on December 18, 2022, with the voting process taking place from December 22–29 while the winners were announced on January 3, 2023.
| Game of the Year | VR Game of the Year |
| Elden Ring Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Dying Light 2 Stay Human God of War Stray | Hitman 3 Among Us VR Bonelab Green Hell VR Inside the Backrooms |
| Labor of Love | Better With Friends |
| Cyberpunk 2077 Deep Rock Galactic Dota 2 No Man's Sky Project Zomboid | Raft Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Monster Hunter Rise MultiVersus Ready or Not |
| Outstanding Visual Style | Most Innovative Gameplay |
| Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Bendy and the Dark Revival Cult of the Lamb Kena: Bridge of Spirits Scorn | Stray Dome Keeper Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Neon White Teardown |
| Best Game You Suck At | Best Soundtrack |
| Elden Ring FIFA 23 GTFO Total War: Warhammer III Victoria 3 | Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA MegaMix+ Metal: Hellsinger Persona 5 Royal Sonic Frontiers |
| Outstanding Story-Rich Game | Sit Back and Relax |
| God of War A Plague Tale: Requiem Marvel's Spider-Man The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection | Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Disney Dreamlight Valley Dorfromantik PowerWash Simulator Slime Rancher 2 |
| Best Game on the Go ||
| Death Stranding Director's Cut Brotato Marvel Snap Vampire Survivors Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel ||

### 2023

The nomination process took place from November 21–28, 2023. Nominees were announced on December 17, with the voting process taking place from December 21, 2023 to January 2, 2024. Journalists highlighted some winners, such as Red Dead Redemption 2 (awarded for ongoing support despite the game receiving no major updates since 2020) and Starfield (awarded for innovation despite being received poorly on Steam); some suspected the votes were sarcastic or ironic, while others considered them a symptom of fan voting. The reception for The Last of Us Part 1 winning "Best Soundtrack Award" for The Steam Awards in 2024 was poorly received, as the public questioned why a remake of a game initially made in 2013 won over game soundtracks like Pizza Tower and Hi-Fi Rush.
| Game of the Year | VR Game of the Year |
| Baldur's Gate 3 EA Sports FC 24 Hogwarts Legacy Lethal Company Resident Evil 4 | Labyrinthine F1 23 Ghosts of Tabor Gorilla Tag I Expect You To Die 3 |
| Labor of Love | Better With Friends |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 Apex Legends Deep Rock Galactic Dota 2 Rust | Lethal Company Party Animals Sons of the Forest Sunkenland Warhammer 40,000: Darktide |
| Outstanding Visual Style | Most Innovative Gameplay |
| Atomic Heart Cocoon Darkest Dungeon II High on Life Inward | Starfield Contraband Police Remnant 2 Shadows of Doubt Your Only Move is Hustle |
| Best Game You Suck At | Best Soundtrack |
| Sifu EA Sports FC 24 Lords of the Fallen Overwatch 2 Street Fighter 6 | The Last of Us Part I Chants of Sennaar Hi-Fi Rush Persona 5 Tactica Pizza Tower |
| Outstanding Story-Rich Game | Sit Back and Relax |
| Baldur's Gate 3 Lies of P Love is all Around Resident Evil 4 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | Dave the Diver Cities: Skylines II Coral Island Potion Craft Train Sim World 4 |
| Best Game on Steam Deck ||
| Hogwarts Legacy Brotato Diablo IV Dredge The Outlast Trials ||

### 2024

The nomination process took place from November 27 to December 4, 2024. Nominees were announced on December 17, with the voting process taking place from December 19 to December 31.
| Game of the Year | VR Game of the Year |
| Black Myth: Wukong Balatro Helldivers 2 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 | Metro Awakening VR Blade and Sorcery Davigo Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted 2 Maestro |
| Labor of Love | Better With Friends |
| Elden Ring Baldur's Gate 3 Dota 2 No Man's Sky Stardew Valley | Helldivers 2 Palworld Satisfactory Sons of the Forest Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 |
| Outstanding Visual Style | Most Innovative Gameplay |
| Silent Hill 2 Hades II Metaphor: ReFantazio Neva Nine Sols | Liar's Bar Balatro Helldivers 2 Satisfactory S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl |
| Best Game You Suck At | Best Soundtrack |
| Black Myth: Wukong Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero The Finals Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut Tekken 8 | Red Dead Redemption Fate/stay night Remastered Frostpunk 2 Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition Silent Hill 2 |
| Outstanding Story-Rich Game | Sit Back and Relax |
| Black Myth: Wukong Final Fantasy XVI Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut Mouthwashing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl | Farming Simulator 25 House Flipper 2 Tiny Glade TCG Card Shop Simulator Webfishing |
| Best Game on Steam Deck ||
| God of War Ragnarök Balatro Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor Hades II Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader ||