Hollow Knight: Silksong is named game of the year at the Steam Awards after voting with more than 43 million votes

In early January 2026, Valve revealed the big winners of Steam Awards 2025, an award defined entirely by the gaming community. With a record of more than 43 million votes registered during the platform’s winter promotion period, the event highlighted the titles that most marked the year, consolidating the importance of popular opinion in the games industry.

The big protagonist of the night was the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, developed by the independent studio Team Cherry. The title not only took home the coveted award of Jogo from Ano, but was also recognized in a category that celebrates its difficulty, showing the power of challenging games with the public.

The awards, which featured nominations starting in November 2025 and final voting between December and early January, celebrated a wide range of genres and productions. The results reinforce the diversity present on the Steam platform, where both major releases and innovative independent projects find space and direct recognition from players.

The double consecration of Hollow Knight: Silksong

Launched in September 2025 after years of intense anticipation from the community, Hollow Knight: The game’s success is reflected not only in critical acclaim, but also in its commercial performance, with more than 7 million copies sold by the end of the year. Além of the main prize, the game also won in the “Better Jogo than Você Joga Mal” category, a recognition for its precise and highly difficult gameplay, which requires dedication and skill from players to master. Team Cherry has already confirmed its commitment to continued support for the title, announcing the arrival of free content expansions throughout 2026, including the already revealed “Sea of ​​Sorrow”.

Analysis of the main award winners

In the “Made with Amor” category, aimed at games that receive updates and ongoing support long after release, the winner was Baldur’s Gate 3.

Hades 2, by Supergiant Games, was voted “Best Jogo in Steam Deck”, highlighting its perfect optimization for the Valve portable platform. The roguelike, which expands its predecessor’s universe with new witchcraft mechanics and an engaging narrative, has proven to be one of the favorite experiences for players looking for quality anywhere.

The “Gameplay Mais Inovador” award went to ARC Raiders, which captivated players with its cooperative extraction mechanics in a post-apocalyptic setting. The title stood out for its tactical approach and high tension, recording high peaks in simultaneous players and leading sales in Steam during the holiday season.

Silent Hill f won the “Best

The sound and narrative highlighted

The soundtrack was one of the highlights of the awards, and the “Best Trilha Sonora” award went to Clair Obscur: The recognition adds to other awards that the title accumulated throughout the year, consolidating it as a work of sound art.

In the “Best Narrativa” category, the winner was Dispatch. The game surprised with its comical and original approach, telling the story of superheroes in an office environment. With sharp dialogues and unusual situations, the title proved that a good story does not need to be epic to be memorable, winning over players with its humor and creativity.

Games to relax and play with friends

The multiplayer experience was also celebrated, with PEAK taking the “Best with Amigos” award. The cooperative climbing game stood out for requiring communication and teamwork, where the smallest mistake can lead to drastic consequences for the entire group, creating moments of tension and shared victory.

Meanwhile, The Midnight Walk was voted “Ano’s VR Game”, offering a unique immersive experience with its stop-motion animation and deep narrative. Finally, in the “Relax and Aproveite” category, the winner was RV There Yet?, a game that provides a casual and peaceful travel journey in a trailer, ideal for those looking for a stress-free gaming experience.

The power of the community in choosing winners

The 2025 edition of Steam Awards once again reinforced its distinctive character in relation to other industry awards, which often depend on a jury of critics and experts. With more than 43 million votes cast, the Valve event is a direct reflection of the preferences and engagement of the user base of the largest PC gaming platform in the world. The two-step voting process, with nominations open in November and the final choice during the winter promotion, ensures that the nominees and winners are titles that genuinely resonated with audiences throughout the year. Essa democratic approach allows games of all sizes, from independent productions to major releases, to be recognized for their merit and the passion of their communities, making the award a faithful barometer of the market.

Perspectives for award-winning games

Winning Steam Awards often serves as a significant boost to game sales and visibility. Muitos of the award-winning titles already have content plans for 2026, such as the free expansions for Hollow Knight: Silksong and the ongoing updates for Hades 2 and Baldur’s

For others, like ARC Raiders, the prize solidifies their player base and encourages continued seasonal events and new content. The award, in line with the Winter Sale discounts, ensures that both winners and nominees reach a new audience, prolonging their life cycle and relevance in the market.

Categories reflect the diversity of the platform

The 11 award categories demonstrate Valve’s effort to cover the most varied types of gaming experiences. The existence of awards such as “Relax and Aproveite” and “Better Jogo than Você Joga Mal” alongside traditional categories such as “Game of