Drama, shock, elation, outrage, vindication, and a whole heap more emotions for the fans and creators of all the lauded titles vying for position in the 2022 Steam Awards. Millions voted and the winners in all categories have been revealed. The competition was tight in several of the categories, but there can only be one winner.
The limelight is generally hogged by the coveted Game Of The Year award, but that didn't stop several other titles from raising the bar in their respective categories and standing out from the crowd. Every award at the 2022 Steam Awards was highly contested, with all of the winners being worthy of their accolades.
Best Game On The Go
Contenders
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
- Vampire Survivors
- Brotato
- Marvel Snap
- WINNER: Death Stranding Director's Cut
This was something of a twist for several gamers who were expecting a different result in this category, assuming the winner would be something a little more casual or pick-up-and-play. In addition, the main game was released in 2019, so some thought the Director's Cut version may not qualify for consideration. However, with all due respect to Death Stranding, it is an absolutely superb game, and the developers have worked very hard to make the experience very fluid and enjoyable on the Steam Deck.
Sit Back And Relax
Contenders
- PowerWash Simulator
- Disney Dreamlight Valley
- Dorfromantik
- Slime Rancher 2
- WINNER: LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
The LEGO Star Wars series has won over the hearts of many gamers with its creative interpretations of the Star Wars universe from many different perspectives. While utter relaxation may not be the first thing that comes to mind when gamers think of The Skywalker Saga, the simple fact that enough fans are happy to classify it as their go-to game for chilling out speaks volumes about the sheer homely comfort it exudes.
Outstanding Story-Rich Game
Contenders
- A Plague Tale: Requiem
- Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
- The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
- Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered
- WINNER: God of War
Garnering Overwhelmingly Positive Steam reviews and a very healthy Metacritic rating, God of War has really captured the imagination of the PC gaming world. Despite starting life as a Playstation exclusive, PC gamers have made their voice heard that they appreciated the epic adventures of Kratos and the gripping storyline that sucks players in from start to finish.
Best Soundtrack
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Contenders
- Metal: Hellsinger
- Sonic Frontiers
- Persona 5 Royal
- Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix+
- WINNER: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
The Final Fantasy VII story started over two decades ago, released on PlayStation. While the whole series has a huge fanbase, fans especially doted over number VII, which simply veered into the sublime. The recent remakes and remasters are trying to recreate that original magic, and are doing a superb job of it, which PC gamers are appreciating. The soundtrack in this latest segment is frankly a masterpiece. It captures the essence of what burned itself into the souls of gamers all those years ago and uplifts it even further into modern, magnificent brilliance.
Best Game You Suck At
Contenders
- GTFO
- Victoria 3
- Total War: Warhammer III
- EA Sports FIFA 23
- WINNER: Elden Ring
There was very little doubt as to which title would win this award. Elden Ring has been a worldwide sensation in the gaming world, but it has made quite a reputation for being relentlessly difficult. Online discussions rage as to why some parts are so deep, so complicated, and just inexplicably difficult. Many players rely on careful research and preparation using wikis before even attempting parts of the game. New players will suck, and they will struggle. So to quote various internet trolls, 'don't git mad, git gud!'
Most Innovative Gameplay
Contenders
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
- Teardown
- Neon White
- Dome Keeper
- WINNER: Stray
So many gamers breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Stray take this rather special award. It won over so many hearts with its fascinating insight into the unpredictable behavior and whimsical mischief that characterizes cats. There are not many cat simulators around, and this undoubtedly takes the crown of such a niche market. The storyline is moving and leaves players with the feeling that they just experienced something quite special and out-of-the-ordinary.
Outstanding Visual Style
Contenders
- Scorn
- Bendy and the Dark Revival
- Cult of the Lamb
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- WINNER: Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Sometimes this award can be won by a game that revolutionizes a particular visual style or creates an entirely new style of its own. TIn 2022, however, the award goes to the result of a gargantuan effort by a very talented team, not for creating something new, but rather tweaking and perfecting the exquisite Spider-Man game world. The visuals are so glorious and so sumptuous they are almost drinkable.
Better With Friends
Contenders
- Ready or Not
- Monster Hunter Rise
- MultiVersus
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
- WINNER: Raft
This title really took the gaming world by storm in 2022. The survival genre is really shining right now, and Raft exemplifies how to do it right. Yet, like so many survival games, the experience in single-player is good, but the cooperative multiplayer sends it soaring into greatness. Some things are just designed to be shared with friends.
Labor Of Love
Contenders
- Dota 2
- Project Zomboid
- No Man's Sky
- Deep Rock Galactic
- WINNER: Cyberpunk 2077
The Labor of Love award can go in two different directions. On the one hand, it can highlight a game whose developers have always been working hard on it, always updating and tweaking in response to community feedback. Alternatively, it can also go to a game that was utterly broken at launch but has had a lot of time invested in it to make the experience playable again. Cyberpunk 2077 takes the dubious privilege of being the latter. It was condemned for being released too early, being so buggy it was almost unplayable. With credit to the developers though, they patched it up well enough to win this award.
VR Game Of The Year
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Contenders
- Bonelab
- Green Hell VR
- Among Us VR
- Inside the Backrooms
- WINNER: Hitman 3
Not many saw this one coming. Hitman 3's VR seemed to be a bolted-on feature that was roundly maligned by many gamers who felt it to be buggy, unintuitive and unreliable. There have been a number of far higher-rated VR games released in 2022. The people have spoken, however, so who can argue? At the very least it gives the green light to developers wondering if they should add a VR mode to their game.
Game of the Year
Contenders
- Dying Light 2 Stay Human
- Stray
- God of War
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
- WINNER: Elden Ring
This is it, the big one! Hearty congratulations to the designers and the developers. Elden Ring just ticks so many boxes. Solid gameplay, majestic game environments, mind-blowing graphics, exquisite audio, and so much freedom and replayability. As well as singleplayer, the addition of co-op and PvP multiplayer just adds another layer of depth and content. Elden Ring truly deserves the crown in 2022.