As the digital confetti settles from the US's New Year's Day celebrations, Valve has officially unveiled the winners of its annual community-driven Steam Awards. The 2025 results highlight a year of exceptional releases and ongoing developer support, with one highly anticipated sequel emerging as the clear standout, capturing the platform's highest honor and a trophy that speaks to its demanding nature.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Claims Dual Honors in Steam Awards Sweep
The undeniable story of the 2025 Steam Awards is the triumph of Hollow Knight: Silksong. After years of eager anticipation and a launch in September 2025 that reportedly strained digital storefronts, Team Cherry's metroidvania sequel secured the coveted "Game of the Year" award. It faced stiff competition from titles like ARC Raiders, Dispatch, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Kingdom Come II: Deliverance, but ultimately prevailed through user votes. In a telling double victory, Silksong also clinched the "Best Game You Suck At" award, a category designed for beloved games that offer a formidable, often punishing challenge to players. This dual win underscores the game's perfect blend of exquisite design and brutal difficulty that has resonated deeply with the Steam community.
Game of the Year Finalists
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Winner)
- ARC Raiders
- Dispatch
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Kingdom Come II: Deliverance
Baldur's Gate 3 Recognized for Continued Excellence as a "Labor of Love"
Proving that a game's journey doesn't end at launch, Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 was awarded the "Labor of Love" trophy. This category honors games from any release year whose developers have shown exceptional ongoing support. Throughout 2025, Larian released major updates aimed at bringing the sprawling RPG to a "feature-complete" state, demonstrating a commitment to polish and expansion that players clearly noticed and appreciated. This award highlights the growing importance of post-launch support in maintaining a game's relevance and player base in the modern ecosystem.
Diverse Titles Shine Across Specialized Award Categories
While Silksong took top billing, the 2025 Steam Awards celebrated excellence across a wide spectrum of gaming experiences. Supergiant Games' Hades II was named "Best Game on Steam Deck," validating its perfect blend of roguelike mechanics and stylized visuals for portable play. The cooperative survival game Peak won "Better With Friends," a testament to its engaging social gameplay loops. In the artistic realms, Silent Hill f earned "Outstanding Visual Style" for its haunting aesthetic, while Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was praised with the "Best Soundtrack" award. ARC Raiders secured "Most Innovative Gameplay," and the narrative-driven Dispatch won "Outstanding Story-Rich Game."
2025 Steam Awards Winners List
- 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?
The Steam Awards Reflect a Robust and Varied Gaming Year
The full list of winners, from the VR title The Midnight Walk to the chill vehicle-based game RV There Yet?, paints a picture of a vibrant and diverse year on Steam. The awards process, determined entirely by two rounds of community voting, offers a direct snapshot of player sentiment and enthusiasm. The results not only crown popular successes but also shine a light on titles excelling in specific niches, from storytelling and visual art to cooperative play and hardware optimization. As the gaming industry moves forward, the 2025 Steam Awards stand as a community-curated highlight reel of a year defined by both breathtaking new adventures and the enduring polish of established favorites.