2020 has already passed, and although we want to forget or move away from the year that locked us into our homes, some events are worth remembering. One of those events is the annual Steam Awards. For those new to the event, The Steam Awards is a yearly event where players get to nominate and decide which games published on the platform deserve recognition.
Since its inception in 2016, the Steam Awards has been consistent in its mission to let the video game community decide which video game title deserves recognition. This part makes the event more reliable and less biased compared to other award-giving organizations. After all, the voice of a player who paid for a full game is more powerful than the so-called journalists and reviewers who get their copies free from the developers.
In a nutshell, expect that the Steam nominees and recipients when a nonsensical ideology is consuming the industry. It is refreshing to know that there is still an event recognizing a video game based on content, feature, and overall gameplay and not on their “wokeness” level. With that said, check out the nominees and winners of the 2020 Steam Awards’ ten categories.
The Steam Awards 2020 Categories
Each year, Valves presents the Steam community with multiple unique categories deviant from those commonly used in other game awards. Valve dishes out individual categories, most of which are created by the community. The categories in the Steam Awards are evolving every year. It was not until 2018 that The Game of the Year award became part of the event along with seven other categories. Valve decided to use the same set of categories in 2019.
They added the previously removed “The Best Soundtrack” Award, and the “Sit Back and Relax” Award in 2020, boosting the number of categories to 10. With that out of the way, let’s check out the various categories! All along with the nominees and recipients of the 2020 Steam Awards.
Sit Back and Relax Steam Award
Sit back and relax is one of the first community-created categories for the event that debuted in 2016. As the name suggests, this category features fun and relaxing games perfect for unwinding after a stressful day. The games under this category do not present any significant challenge for the player. The focus of the games on this list is to provide more results from minimal input. Check out the list of nominees and winners below.
Nominees:
- The Sims 4 – Maxis
- Microsoft Flight Simulator – Asobo Studio
- Satisfactory – Coffee Stain Studios
- Untitled Goose Game – House House
- Factorio – Wube Software LTD.
Winner:
- The Sims 4
Outstanding Story Rich Game Award
The Outstanding Story Rich Game Award first debuted in 2019. Under this category, the games feature immersive narrative similar if not better to those seen on the silver screen. Each game on this list presents a concoction of drama, action, and plot twists that will shame Hollywood movies. Check out the nominees and the winner below for more details.
Nominees:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – Rockstar Games
- Detroit Become Human – Quantic Dream
- Metro Exodus – 4A Games
- Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition – Guerilla
Winner:
- Red Dead Redemption 2
The Best Soundtrack Steam Award
The Best Soundtrack Award is another community created category that debuted in 2017. The category made a comeback in the 2020 Steam Awards to recognize the games equipped with awesome tunes setting the perfect ambiance. Check out the nominees and the recipient below.
Nominees:
- Doom Eternal – id Software
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection – 343 Industries, Splash Damage, Ruffian Games, Bungie, Saber Interactive
- Helltaker – vanripper
- Need for Speed™ Heat – Ghost Games
- Persona 4 Golden – Atlus
Winner:
- Doom Eternal
The Best Games You Suck At Award
The Best Games You Suck At category debuted in 2019 featuring some of the most demanding games that only benefit the persistent. The games on this list are not for rage quitters and cheaters, as they require pure and unadulterated skills to play. Check out the nominees and winners below.
Nominees:
- APEX Legends – Respawn Entertainment
- Crusader Kings III – Paradox Development Studio
- Ghostrunner – One More Level, 3D Realms, Slipgate Ironworks™
- EA SPORTS™ FIFA 21 – Electronic Arts
- GTFO – 10 Chambers
Winner:
- APEX Legends
Most Innovative Gameplay Steam Award
In 2019, The Most Innovative Gameplay award category featured some of the most iconic games that take gaming to the next level. The games on this list do not follow the norms and focus on bringing an entirely new experience to the player. Check out the nominees and winners below.
Nominees:
- Death Stranding – Kojima Productions
- Control – Remedy Entertainment
- Superliminal – Pillow Castle
- Noita – Noila Games
- Teardown – Tuxedo Labs
Winner:
- Death Stranding
Outstanding Visual Style Award
The Outstanding Visual Style Award category is another 2019 debutant that focuses on highlighting the most aesthetically pleasing games and the games that will leave you in awe. The games on this list come with the best artwork and design that will leave your jaw hanging throughout the experience. Check out the nominees and winners below.
Nominees:
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps – Moon Studios GmbH
- Battlefield V – Dice
- There Is No Game: Jam Edition 2015 – Draw Me A Pixel
- Marvel’s Avengers – Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montréal, Nixxes
- Black Mesa – Crowbar Collective
Winner:
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Better With Friends Steam Award
The Better with Friends category is one of the original community created categories that debuted in 2016. Although absent in 2017, the category was reinstalled back in 2018 and has stayed on the list ever since. As the category suggests, the list features multiplayer games that are extremely fun to play with friends than solo. Check out the nominees and winners below.
Nominees:
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout – Mediatonic
- Sea of Thieves – Rare Ltd
- Borderlands 3 – Gearbox Software
- Deep Rock Galactic – Ghost Ship Games
- Risk of Rain 2 – Hopoo Games
Winner:
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Labor of Love Award
The Labor of Love category made its first appearance in 2017 to honor the games that withstand the test of time. The games on this list continuously receive support from the developers who work tirelessly to keep their creations fresh and functioning for years to come. Check out the nominees and winners below.
Nominees:
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – Valve, Hidden Path Entertainment
- Among Us – Innersloth
- Terraria – Re-Logic
- The Witcher® 3: Wild Hunt – CD Projekt Red
- No Man’s Sky – Hello Games
Winner:
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
VR Game of the Year Steam Award
The VR Game of the Year category made its debut in 2017 to acknowledge the games that take VR gaming to the next level. The games in this category feature impressive gameplay design that allows you to cross the boundaries between reality and simulation. Check out the nominees and winners below.
Nominees:
- Half-Life: Alyx – Valve
- Phasmophobia – Kinetic Games
- The Room VR: A Dark Matter – Fireproof Games
- Thief Simulator VR – GameBoom VR
- STAR WARS™: Squadrons – Motive
Winner:
- Half-Life: Alyx
Game of the Year Award
The Game of the Year Award is a category that needs little to no explanation simply because the category is the gold standard in video game awards. The games on this list are the best of the bunch, meaning that it is worth playing if a game makes it this far. Check out the nominees and winners below..
Nominees:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – Rockstar Games
- Hades – Supergiant Games
- DOOM Eternal – id Software
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout – Mediatonic
- Death Stranding – Kojima Productions
Winner:
- Red Dead Redemption 2
For instance recognition and awards boast not only the popularity of the game but also the studio. Who better to choose the best games than the players who play the game and not the elites living in an alternate world demonizing the fandom.
Above all, if this is your first time knowing about the Steam Awards, then feel free to cast your vote in December. Exercise your power by helping the rest of the gaming community recognize the games that deserve it.
