The winners of the 2025 Steam Awards are in, and the results highlight a major shift in what players value. The community-voted awards saw Hollow Knight: Silksong secure the top prize of Game of the Year, an outcome many are calling a surprise victory over other heavy favorites.
The awards are based entirely on votes from millions of Steam users. This year, 43.8 million player votes were cast to decide the winners across 11 unique categories. The final results were announced on January 3, 2026, concluding a voting period that began during the Steam Winter Sale in mid-December.
The Complete 2025 Steam Awards Winners List
Here is the official list of every winner from the 2025 Steam Awards ceremony.
- Game of the Year: Hollow Knight: Silksong
- VR Game of the Year: The Midnight Walk
- Labor of Love Award: Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Game on Steam Deck: Hades 2
- Better with Friends Award: Peak
- Outstanding Visual Style Award: Silent Hill f
- Most Innovative Gameplay Award: Arc Raiders
- Best Game You Suck At Award: Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Best Soundtrack Award: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Outstanding Story-Rich Game Award: Dispatch
- Sit Back and Relax Award: RV There Yet?
Hollow Knight Silksong’s Double Victory
Hollow Knight: Silksong was the only game to win in two categories, taking home both the Game of the Year and Best Game You Suck At awards. This double win is significant for Team Cherry’s long-awaited Metroidvania sequel, which finally launched in 2025 after years of anticipation from fans.
The Best Game You Suck At category is designed for notoriously challenging games. By winning this award, the Steam community acknowledged the game’s high difficulty level, a core trait it shares with its critically acclaimed predecessor.
How the Winners Differ from Other Major Awards
The Steam Awards results often contrast with other industry ceremonies, and the 2025 winners are a prime example. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which dominated at The Game Awards 2025 and has won numerous other accolades, was only able to secure the Best Soundtrack award on Steam.
This difference underscores how player-driven votes can lead to different outcomes compared to panels of critics and industry professionals. In a social media post discussing the results, one fan noted the unique perspective of the Steam Awards, saying:
“What I really appreciate about the Steam Awards is the sheer variety of games and categories… which means more games overall got to shine, whether they won or just plain nominated”.
Another user pointed out the community’s desire to recognize a broader set of games: “I really appreciate the players and the fans not covering the whole awards with just one game”.
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Notable Wins Across Other Categories
Several other 2025 standouts were recognized for their specific strengths. The cooperative game Peak won the Better with Friends Award, while the tactical shooter Arc Raiders was praised for Most Innovative Gameplay. Arc Raiders also had a commercially successful year, ranking as one of Steam’s biggest-selling games over the holiday period.
The Labor of Love Award, which honors games still receiving great support long after their initial launch, went to Baldur’s Gate 3. This award has historically gone to games with dedicated, long-term post-launch support from their developers.
For players who enjoy gaming on the go, Hades 2 was voted the Best Game on Steam Deck, confirming its excellent performance and playability on Valve’s handheld device.
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