The Steam Awards#2016

{{Infobox award

| name = The Steam Awards

| image = SteamAwardslogo.png

| image_upright = 0.35

| awarded_for = User-voted favorites on Steam

| year = {{start date and age|2016|12|31}}

| website = {{URL|https://store.steampowered.com/steamawards/}}

}}

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.{{cite web | url = http://www.polygon.com/2016/11/23/13734480/steam-awards-2016-autumn-sale | title = Valve introduces Steam Awards, chosen by the community | first= Samit | last = Sarkar | date = November 23, 2016 | accessdate = December 31, 2016 | work = Polygon }}{{cite web |last1=Chalk |first1=Andy |title=The Steam Autumn Sale has begun, Steam Award nominations are now being taken |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-steam-autumn-sale-has-begun-steam-award-nominations-are-now-being-taken/ |website=PC Gamer |accessdate=26 November 2019}}

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.{{cite web | url = http://www.polygon.com/2016/12/31/14136362/steam-awards-winners-valve| title = Steam Awards names its first-ever winners | first = Owen | last = Good | date = December 31, 2016 | accessdate = December 31, 2016 | work = Polygon }} The awards received around 15 million nominations.{{cite web | url = http://www.pcgamer.com/valve-reveals-steam-awards-nominees/ | title = Valve reveals Steam Awards nominees | first = Joe | last = Donneley | date = December 22, 2016 | accessdate = December 22, 2016 | work = PC Gamer }}

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style="width:50%"| The 'Villain Most In Need Of A Hug' Award

! style="width:50%"| The 'I Thought This Game Was Cool Before It Won An Award' Award

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style="width:50%"| The 'Test of Time' Award

! style="width:50%"| The 'Just 5 More Minutes' Award

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style="width:50%"| The 'Whoooaaaaaaa, dude!' Award

! style="width:50%"| The 'Game Within A Game Award' Award

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Grand Theft Auto V
Garry’s Mod
The Stanley Parable
Tabletop Simulator
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

style="width:50%"| The 'I'm Not Crying, There's Something In My Eye' Award

! style="width:50%"| The 'Best Use Of A Farm Animal' Award

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Goat Simulator
ARK: Survival Evolved
Blood and Bacon
Farming Simulator 17
Stardew Valley

style="width:50%"| The 'Boom Boom' Award
(community created)

! style="width:50%"| The 'Love/Hate Relationship' Award
(community created)

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style="width:50%"| The 'Sit Back and Relax' Award
(community created)

! style="width:50%"| The 'Better With Friends' Award
(community created)

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=2017=

The nomination process took place from November 22–28, 2017.{{cite web | url = http://www.pcgamer.com/the-steam-autumn-sale-has-begun-bringing-back-the-steam-awards/ | title =The Steam Autumn Sale has begun, bringing back the Steam Awards | first = Andy | last = Chalk | date = November 22, 2017 | accessdate = November 22, 2017 | work = PC Gamer }} The voting took place from December 20, 2017, to January 2, 2018, with the winners announced on January 3.{{cite web |last=Saed |first=Sherif |date=December 21, 2017 |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/12/21/steam-awards-2017-nominees-announced/ |title=Steam Awards 2017 nominees announced |publisher=VG247 |accessdate=December 25, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Chalk|first1=Andy|title=The 2017 Steam Awards winners are revealed|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/the-2017-steam-awards-winners-are-revealed/|website=PC Gamer|accessdate=January 4, 2018|date=January 3, 2018}}

style="width:50%"\| The 'Choices Matter' Award ! style="width:50%"\| The 'Mom's Spaghetti' Award
class=wikitable
valign="top" \| *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* Dishonored 2 Divinity: Original Sin 2 Life Is Strange: Before the Storm The Walking Dead: A New Frontier \| valign="top" \| *PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds* Alien: Isolation The Evil Within 2 Outlast 2 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
style="width:50%"\| The 'Labor of Love' Award ! style="width:50%"\| The 'Suspension of Disbelief' Award
valign="top" \| *Warframe* Crusader Kings II Path of Exile Team Fortress 2 Titan Quest \| valign="top" \| *Rocket League* Goat Simulator Saints Row IV South Park: The Fractured but Whole Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
style="width:50%"\| 'The World Is Grim Enough Let's Just All Get Along' Award ! style="width:50%"\| The 'No Apologies' Award
valign="top" \| *Stardew Valley* Abzû Cities: Skylines Slime Rancher To the Moon \| valign="top" \| *The Witcher* HuniePop Gothic II Mount & Blade: Warband Rust
style="width:50%"\| The 'Defies Description' Award ! style="width:50%"\| The 'Cry Havoc And Let Slip The Dogs Of War' Award
valign="top" \| *Garry's Mod* Antichamber Doki Doki Literature Club Pony Island The Stanley Parable \| valign="top" \| *Just Cause 3* Broforce Middle-earth: Shadow of War Red Faction: Guerrilla Total War: Warhammer II
style="width:50%"\| The 'Haunts My Dreams' Award ! style="width:50%"\| The 'Soul of Vitruvius' Award
valign="top" \| *Counter-Strike: Global Offensive* Dark Souls III Dota 2 Factorio Sid Meier's Civilization VI \| valign="top" \| *Rise of the Tomb Raider* Bayonetta Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice I am Bread Nier: Automata
style="width:50%"\| The 'Whoooaaaaaaa, Dude! 2.0' Award ! style="width:50%"\| The 'Best Soundtrack' Award (community created)
valign="top" \| *The Evil Within 2* Antichamber CPU Invaders Hotline Miami Luna \| valign="top" \| *Cuphead* Crypt of the Necrodancer Nier: Automata Transistor Undertale
colspan="2" style="width:50%" \| The 'Even Better Than I Expected' Award
colspan="2" valign="top" \| *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.{{cite web |last1=Frank |first1=Allegra |title=Steam Autumn Sale is live, along with Steam Awards nominations |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/21/18106877/steam-autumn-sale-deals-awards-voting |website=Polygon |accessdate=21 November 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Chalk |first1=Andy |title=Steam Winter Sale start date confirmed, Steam Award nominees announced |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-winter-sale-start-date-confirmed-steam-award-nominees-announced/ |website=PC Gamer |accessdate=18 December 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Tarason |first1=Dominic |title=Steam Lunar New Year sale offers extra discounts for big spenders |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/02/04/steam-lunar-new-year-sale-offers-bonus-discounts/ |website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |accessdate=February 4, 2019}} 2018 Steam Awards introduced the "Game of the Year" category.

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style="width:50%"| The "Game of the Year" Award

! style="width:50%"| The "VR Game of the Year" Award

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style="width:50%"| The "Labor of Love" Award

! style="width:50%"| The "Best Developer" Award

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style="width:50%"| The "Best Environment" Award

! style="width:50%"| The "Better With Friends" Award

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style="width:50%"| The "Best Alternate History" Award

! style="width:50%"| The "Most Fun with a Machine" Award

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=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.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/holiday-sale-date-confirmed-steam-award-nominee-reveals-begin-today/ | title = Steam Holiday Sale date confirmed, award nominee reveals begin today | first= Andy | last = Chalk | date = December 11, 2019 | accessdate = December 11, 2019 | work = PC Gamer }}{{cite web | url = https://www.destructoid.com/the-2019-steam-awards-are-looking-for-nominees-573498.phtml | title = The 2019 Steam Awards are looking for nominees | first= Jordan | last = Devore | date = November 26, 2019 | accessdate = November 26, 2019 | work = Destructoid }} Users were able to vote from December 19–31, with the winners announced on the final day.{{cite web |last1=Watts |first1=Steve |title=Steam Awards 2019 Winners Announced |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/steam-awards-2019-winners-announced/1100-6472457/ |website=GameSpot |accessdate=31 December 2019}}

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style="width:50%"| The "Game of the Year" Award

! style="width:50%"| The "VR Game of the Year" Award

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style="width:50%"| The "Labor of Love" Award

! style="width:50%"| The "Better With Friends" Award

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style="width:50%"| The "Most Innovative Gameplay" Award

! style="width:50%"| The "Outstanding Story-Rich Game" Award

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style="width:50%"| The "Best Game You Suck At" Award

! style="width:50%"| The "Outstanding Visual Style" Award

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=2020=

The nomination process began on November 25, 2020, with winners announced on January 3, 2021.{{cite web |last1=Macgregor |first1=Jody |title=Red Dead Redemption 2 is Steam's game of the year 2020 |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/red-dead-redemption-2-is-steams-game-of-the-year-2020/ |website=PC Gamer |access-date=4 January 2021}} Nominees for each category were announced daily starting on December 17, 2020, with voting commencing between December 22 and January 3.{{cite web |title=The Steam Awards |url=https://store.steampowered.com/steamawards/ |website=store.steampowered.com |access-date=18 December 2020 |language=en}}

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style="width:50%"| Game of the Year Award

! style="width:50%"| VR Game of the Year

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| valign="top" |

style="width:50%"| Labor of Love Award

! style="width:50%"| Better With Friends

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style="width:50%"| Outstanding Visual Style Award

! style="width:50%"| Most Innovative Gameplay Award

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style="width:50%"| Best Game You Suck At Award

! style="width:50%"| Best Soundtrack Award

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style="width:50%"| Outstanding Story-Rich Award

! style="width:50%"| Sit Back and Relax Award

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=2021=

Nominees were announced on December 22, 2021, with voting commencing until January 3, 2022.{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Sean |title=Valve Announces Steam Awards Nominees |url=https://www.thegamer.com/valve-steam-awards-nominees-2021/ |website=TheGamer.com |access-date=22 December 2021}}{{cite web |title=Steam Awards 2021 Winners Announced |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/steam-awards-2021-winners-announced/1100-6499284/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=3 January 2022}}

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style="width:50%"| Game of the Year

! style="width:50%"| VR Game of the Year

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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

style="width:50%"| Labor of Love

! style="width:50%"| Better With Friends

valign="top" |

| valign="top" |

style="width:50%"| Outstanding Visual Style

! style="width:50%"| Most Innovative Gameplay

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Deathloop
12 Minutes
Inscryption
Loop Hero
Moncage

style="width:50%"| Best Game You Suck At

! style="width:50%"| Best Soundtrack

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style="width:50%"| Outstanding Story-Rich Game

! style="width:50%"| Sit Back and Relax

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| valign="top" |

=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.{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/games/the-steam-awards-2022-announces-winners/|title=The Steam Awards 2022 announces winners|first=Jordan|last=Fragen|date=January 3, 2023|publisher=VentureBeat|access-date=January 27, 2023}}

style="width:50%"\| Game of the Year ! style="width:50%"\| VR Game of the Year
class=wikitable
valign="top" \| *Elden Ring* Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Dying Light 2 Stay Human God of War Stray \| valign="top" \| *Hitman 3* Among Us VR Bonelab Green Hell VR Inside the Backrooms
style="width:50%"\| Labor of Love ! style="width:50%"\| Better With Friends
valign="top" \| *Cyberpunk 2077* Deep Rock Galactic Dota 2 No Man's Sky Project Zomboid \| valign="top" \| *Raft* Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Monster Hunter Rise MultiVersus Ready or Not
style="width:50%"\| Outstanding Visual Style ! style="width:50%"\| Most Innovative Gameplay
valign="top" \| *Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales* Bendy and the Dark Revival Cult of the Lamb Kena: Bridge of Spirits Scorn \| valign="top" \| *Stray* Dome Keeper Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Neon White Teardown
style="width:50%"\| Best Game You Suck At ! style="width:50%"\| Best Soundtrack
valign="top" \| *Elden Ring* FIFA 23 GTFO Total War: Warhammer III Victoria 3 \| valign="top" \| *Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade* Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA MegaMix+ Metal: Hellsinger Persona 5 Royal Sonic Frontiers
style="width:50%"\| Outstanding Story-Rich Game ! style="width:50%"\| Sit Back and Relax
valign="top" \| *God of War* A Plague Tale: Requiem Marvel's Spider-Man The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection \| valign="top" \| *Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga* Disney Dreamlight Valley Dorfromantik PowerWash Simulator Slime Rancher 2
colspan="2" style="width:50%" \| Best Game on the Go
colspan="2" valign="top" \| *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.{{Cite news |date=2023-12-16 |title=The Steam Awards 2023 shortlist has been revealed - here's what Steam players think are 2023's best games |language=en |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/the-steam-awards-2023-shortlist-has-been-revealed-heres-what-steam-players-think-are-2023s-best-games |access-date=2023-12-18}}{{Cite web |last=Dicarlo |first=John |date=2024-01-02 |title=Steam Announces Winners of 2023 Steam Awards |url=https://gamerant.com/steam-awards-2023-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102202431/https://gamerant.com/steam-awards-2023-winners/ |archive-date=2024-01-02 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Game Rant |language=en}} 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);{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/steam-awards-2023-starfield-red-dead-redemption-1851134717 |title=So, Uh, What's Up With The Steam Awards? |last=Jackson |first=Claire |work=Kotaku |date=January 3, 2023 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.thegamer.com/red-dead-redemption-2-won-steam-labor-of-love-award-2023/ |title=Red Dead Redemption 2 Has Somehow Won Steam's Labor Of Love Award |last=Robertson |first=Joshua |work=TheGamer |date=January 2, 2023 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/red-dead-redemption-2/labor-of-love-steam-awards |title=Red Dead Redemption 2 wins surprising Steam award, everyone hates it |last=Nelson |first=Will |work=PCGamesN |date=January 3, 2023 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/starfield/steam-awards|title=Starfield doesn't win Steam GOTY, snags surprising award instead |last=Koselke |first=Anna |work=PCGamesN |date=January 3, 2023 }} some suspected the votes were sarcastic or ironic, while others considered them a symptom of fan voting.{{cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/players-voted-for-some-of-the-worst-choices-possible-in-the-steam-awards |title=Players voted for some of the worst choices possible in the Steam Awards |last=Smith |first=Graham |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=January 2, 2024 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/steams-2023-goty-nominations-are-extremely-weird-and-i-guess-thats-your-fault/ |title=Steam's 2023 GOTY nominations are extremely weird, and I guess that's your fault |last=Valentine |first=Robin |work=PC Gamer |date=January 2, 2024 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/as-starfield-and-red-dead-redemption-2-claim-controversial-prizes-doubt-is-being-cast-over-the-value-of-the-steam-awards/ |title=As Starfield and Red Dead Redemption 2 claim controversial prizes, doubt is being cast over the value of The Steam Awards |last=Jones |first=Ali |work=GamesRadar+ |date=January 3, 2024 }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=George |date=2024-01-03 |title=Pizza Tower Fans "Fuming" After Losing Best OST To The Last Of Us |url=https://www.thegamer.com/pizza-tower-fans-fuming-done-after-losing-steam-award-best-ost-to-the-last-of-us-part-1/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}

style="width:50%" \| Game of the Year ! style="width:50%" \| VR Game of the Year
class="wikitable"
valign="top" \| *Baldur's Gate 3* EA Sports FC 24 Hogwarts Legacy Lethal Company Resident Evil 4 \| valign="top" \| *Labyrinthine* F1 23 Ghosts of Tabor Gorilla Tag I Expect You To Die 3
style="width:50%" \| Labor of Love ! style="width:50%" \| Better With Friends
valign="top" \| *Red Dead Redemption 2* Apex Legends Deep Rock Galactic Dota 2 Rust \| valign="top" \| *Lethal Company* Party Animals Sons of the Forest Sunkenland Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
style="width:50%" \| Outstanding Visual Style ! style="width:50%" \| Most Innovative Gameplay
valign="top" \| *Atomic Heart* Cocoon Darkest Dungeon II High on Life Inward \| valign="top" \| *Starfield* Contraband Police Remnant 2 Shadows of Doubt Your Only Move is Hustle
style="width:50%" \| Best Game You Suck At ! style="width:50%" \| Best Soundtrack
valign="top" \| *Sifu* EA Sports FC 24 Lords of the Fallen Overwatch 2 Street Fighter 6 \| valign="top" \| *The Last of Us Part I* Chants of Sennaar Hi-Fi Rush Persona 5 Tactica Pizza Tower
style="width:50%" \| Outstanding Story-Rich Game ! style="width:50%" \| Sit Back and Relax
valign="top" \| *Baldur's Gate 3* Lies of P Love is all Around Resident Evil 4 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor \| valign="top" \| *Dave the Diver* Cities: Skylines II Coral Island Potion Craft Train Sim World 4
colspan="2" \|Best Game on Steam Deck
colspan="2" \| *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.{{cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/steamawards/2024|title=The 2024 Steam Awards|date=December 31, 2024|access-date=January 5, 2025|website=store.steampowered.com|publisher=Steam}}

style="width:50%" \| Game of the Year ! style="width:50%" \| VR Game of the Year
class="wikitable"
valign="top" \| *Black Myth: Wukong* Balatro Helldivers 2 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 \| valign="top" \| *Metro Awakening VR* Blade and Sorcery Davigo Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted 2 Maestro
style="width:50%" \| Labor of Love ! style="width:50%" \| Better With Friends
valign="top" \| *Elden Ring* Baldur's Gate 3 Dota 2 No Man's Sky Stardew Valley \| valign="top" \| *Helldivers 2* Palworld Satisfactory Sons of the Forest Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
style="width:50%" \| Outstanding Visual Style ! style="width:50%" \| Most Innovative Gameplay
valign="top" \| *Silent Hill 2* Hades II Metaphor: ReFantazio Neva Nine Sols \| valign="top" \| *Liar's Bar* Balatro Helldivers 2 Satisfactory S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
style="width:50%" \| Best Game You Suck At ! style="width:50%" \| Best Soundtrack
valign="top" \| *Black Myth: Wukong* Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero The Finals Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut Tekken 8 \| valign="top" \| *Red Dead Redemption* Fate/stay night Remastered Frostpunk 2 Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition Silent Hill 2
style="width:50%" \| Outstanding Story-Rich Game ! style="width:50%" \| Sit Back and Relax
valign="top" \| *Black Myth: Wukong* Final Fantasy XVI Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut Mouthwashing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl \| valign="top" \| *Farming Simulator 25* House Flipper 2 Tiny Glade TCG Card Shop Simulator Webfishing
colspan="2" \|Best Game on Steam Deck
colspan="2" \| *God of War Ragnarök* Balatro Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor Hades II Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

References

External links

{{Officialwebsite|https://store.steampowered.com/steamawards/}}

Category:Awards established in 2016

Awards

Category:Video game awards

Category:Annual events