Steam’s annual digital distribution showcase celebrates the top games of the year through its user-voted awards. The platform highlights a diverse mix of titles across categories, recognizing standout projects based on votes from the Steam community. The results reflect a broad spectrum of genres and developer creativity, underscoring the community’s influence on what gets celebrated in gaming cultures across North America and beyond.
In the crown category, the year’s top game was Elden Ring. This ambitious new entry from the creators of the Dark Souls series outpaced strong contenders such as Dying Light 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, God of War, and Stray in a vote that demonstrated broad appeal and a deep fan base across multiple platforms and regions.
For the virtual reality segment, the standout project of the year was Hitman 3 designed for VR on Oculus and Valve Index devices. The stealth adventure featuring the iconic bald assassin with a barcode tattooed on the back of his head secured victory over notable VR titles like Among Us VR, Bone Lab, Green Hell VR, and Inside the Backrooms, showcasing how immersion in virtual reality can win the hearts of players worldwide.
The award for best developer support went to Cyberpunk 2077, a game that continued to evolve after launch with patches and improvements. It faced competition from other strong contenders, including Dota 2, Project Zomboid, No Man’s Sky, and Deep Rock Galactic, each of which earned recognition for ongoing player engagement and ongoing content updates.
Other nominations and winners included a variety of memorable picks: a form of praise for companionship in play with Raft being named for the category recognizing a game that offers meaningful co-op experiences; Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales earned Outstanding Visual Style for its distinctive art direction; Stray received recognition for the most Innovative Gameplay, highlighting its fresh approach to how players interact with a cat protagonist in a vibrant world; Elden Ring was noted as the Best Game You Can’t Buy, a nod to its limited availability and demand at launch. The soundtrack honor went to Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, reflecting a rich musical score that complements the game’s narrative and action. God of War earned the award for the most compelling story, while LEGO Star Wars: Skywalker Saga drew attention for its engaging sit-back experience, and Death Stranding Director’s Cut was celebrated for its movement-focused gameplay innovations.
Historically, the conversation around Steam’s awards has touched multiple corners of the gaming community, and this year’s selections continued that trend by highlighting both blockbuster titles and creative experiments. The list demonstrates how Steam’s platform has become a global focal point for recognizing achievements in design, storytelling, and technical excellence, while also giving players a voice in shaping the year’s most talked-about experiences.
Previously, socialbites.ca covered the most popular PC configurations used by gamers on Steam, illustrating how hardware trends intersect with software preferences and user experiences across regions including Canada and the United States.