The 2025 Steam Awards winners are officially in. After millions of community votes, Steam has crowned the best games of the year across creativity, gameplay, storytelling, and long-term support.
This guide breaks down all 2025 Steam Award winners, explains what each category means, and analyzes why these games earned their titles. If you want a clear, SEO-friendly summary without fluff, you are in the right place.
What Are the Steam Awards?
The Steam Awards are 100 percent community-voted. Players vote based on real playtime, ownership, and hands-on experience. Unlike critic-driven awards, these winners reflect what gamers actually enjoyed and stuck with.
The 2025 awards also launched alongside major discounts, making it one of the best times of the year to buy these titles.
In This Post
Full List of 2025 Steam Awards Winners
Before we dive into the analysis, here is the quick-reference list of every title that took home a trophy this year.
| Award Category | Winner |
| Game of the Year | 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 Suck At | Hollow Knight: Silksong |
| Best Soundtrack | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Outstanding Story-Rich Game | DISPATCH |
| Sit Back and Relax | RV There Yet? |
Game of the Year 2025 Winner
Hollow Knight: Silksong
After years of anticipation, Silksong did not just meet expectations. It exceeded them.
Why it won:
- Tight combat and refined movement
- Massive handcrafted world
- Exceptional boss design
- Strong performance on PC and Steam Deck
This win reflects patience rewarded. The community waited and Steam voters made sure the payoff was recognized.
VR Game of the Year
🥽 The Midnight Walk
VR needed a flagship experience in 2025. This was it.
Why it won:
- High immersion without motion sickness
- Strong gunplay and physics
- Full-length campaign instead of a tech demo
Steam players rewarded substance over novelty.
Labor of Love Award
❤️ Baldur’s Gate 3
This award honors developers who keep improving their game long after launch.
Why it won:
- Continuous content updates
- Balance patches driven by community feedback
- Expanded endings and quality-of-life improvements
A textbook example of post-launch commitment.
Best Game on Steam Deck
🎮 Hades II
Some games feel built for handheld play.
Why it won:
- Smooth performance on Steam Deck
- Short, satisfying run-based gameplay
- Excellent controller support
Fast, fluid, and endlessly replayable on the go.
Better With Friends Award
👥 Peak
This category celebrates shared chaos and memorable moments.
Why it won:
- Designed around teamwork
- Easy drop-in multiplayer
- High replay value with friends
Solo play is fine. Multiplayer is where it shines.
Outstanding Visual Style
🎨 Silent Hill f
Visual storytelling took center stage here.
Why it won:
- Distinct art direction
- Unsettling environmental design
- Cinematic lighting and symbolism
Not just scary. Visually unforgettable.
Most Innovative Gameplay
💡 ARC Raiders
Innovation does not mean complexity. It means smart design.
Why it won:
- Fresh twist on extraction shooters
- Environmental storytelling through gameplay
- Risk and reward balanced perfectly
A genre evolution done right.
Best Game You Suck At
😈 Hollow Knight: Silksong
Yes, it won twice. And deserved it.
Why it won:
- Brutal boss fights
- High skill ceiling
- Fair but unforgiving mechanics
Failure is frequent. Progress is addictive.
Best Soundtrack
🎵 Expedition 33
Music matters. Steam players noticed.
Why it won:
- Emotional orchestral themes
- Adaptive music during combat
- Strong identity across tracks
The soundtrack elevates every moment.
Outstanding Story-Rich Game
Dispatch
Story-focused players found their champion.
Why it won:
- Strong character writing
- Meaningful dialogue choices
- Tight pacing with no filler
A reminder that storytelling still matters.
Sit Back and Relax Award
RV There Yet
Not every game needs stress.
Why it won:
- Calm pacing
- Cozy mechanics
- Low-pressure objectives
Perfect for winding down.
Why the 2025 Steam Awards winners Matter
The Steam Awards are a snapshot of real player sentiment. These wins show clear trends:
- Players value long-term support
- Performance on Steam Deck matters
- Polish beats hype
- Community-driven updates win loyalty
For developers, this is feedback at scale. For players, it is a trusted buying guide.
Conclusion
The 2025 Steam Awards winners highlight a year where quality, commitment, and creativity stood out. From blockbuster releases like Silksong to smaller, relaxing experiences, Steam’s community rewarded games that respected their time and attention.
If you are looking for what to play next, this list is not just popular. It is proven.
Check This Also: Gamescom 2025 reveals
FAQs
What is the Game of the Year at the 2025 Steam Awards winners?
Hollow Knight: Silksong won Game of the Year based on community votes.
Are Steam Awards voted by critics?
No. The Steam Awards are entirely community-voted by players.
Do Steam Award winners go on sale?
Yes. Winners typically receive significant discounts during the Steam Awards sale.
Can a game win more than one Steam Award?
Yes. Silksong won multiple categories in 2025.
Are Steam Awards different from The Game Awards?
Yes. Steam Awards reflect player opinions, while The Game Awards are jury-driven.
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