Valve Announces Nominees for the First Annual Steam Awards

The nominees for the first annual Steam Awards are now finalized. Voting begins tomorrow.

During the Autumn Steam Sale last month, Valve added in the the ability for users to nominate any game in the catalog for a series of awards. Rather than the typical “Game of the Year” type awards, the categories included things like the “Villain Most In Need Of A Hug” Award and the “Love/Hate Relationship” Award. As you’d expect when nominating is part of a Steam Sale, the response was pretty massive. Valve announced today that it received over 15 million nominations. The company has whittled those down to the nominated games you see below.

Each day from December 22 through December 29, a new category will open up for voting. Each will only be accepting votes for 24 hours, so you’ll need to visit daily to get your votes in. Happily, tomorrow also marks the beginning of the Steam Winter Sale, so that’s good news.

On December 30, four categories will open at once, and you’ll be able to vote once in each of them. All winners will be announced on New Year’s Eve. Here are the official nominees (the italicized descriptions are from Valve’s official blog post):

The “Villain Most In Need Of A Hug” Award
Voting Date: December 22

• Borderlands 2
• Dead by Daylight
• Far Cry 3
• Far Cry 4
• Portal 2

Some people just need a hug.

The “I Thought This Game Was Cool Before It Won An Award” Award
Voting Date: December 23

• Euro Truck Simulator 2
• Paladins
• Starbound
• Stardew Valley
• Unturned

This title didn’t have a huge marketing machine behind it, but you found it and loved it. Then you told your friends about it. And they loved it. And now that little game that could is about to win an award… but always remember: you totally found it first.

The “Test of Time” Award
Voting Date: December 24

• Age of Empires II HD
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• Sid Meier’s Civilization V
• Team Fortress 2
• Terraria

This award is for the game that is just as good today as the day you first played it. Newer games may come out, but it doesn’t matter… you’ll always come back to play this one.

The “Just 5 More Minutes” Award
Voting Date: December 25

• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
• Rocket League
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
• Fallout 4
• Terraria

You have an early day tomorrow. You need to get some sleep, so you’re just going finish one more thing before you decide to tuck in for the night. Just one more. Wait, one more. What’s that you say? It’s 2:30 AM? This award is for the game that keeps you playing late.

The “Whoooaaaaaaa, dude!” Award
Voting Date: December 26

• Bioshock Infinite
• DOOM
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Some games melt your face. Maybe it was a crazy plot twist. Maybe you just got your wisdom teeth removed. Either way, this game BLOWS YOUR MIND.

The “Game Within A Game Award” Award
Voting Date: December 27

• Garry’s Mod
• Grand Theft Auto V
• The Stanley Parable
• Tabletop Simulator
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Kinder Eggs. Peanut Butter Cups. Jelly Donuts. All great things stuffed with other great things. Like a mighty turducken, this award celebrates the best mini game hidden within another game.

The “I’m Not Crying, There’s Something In My Eye” Award
Voting Date: December 28

• Life Is Strange
• To the Moon
• This War of Mine
• Undertale
• The Walking Dead

Games are fun. But sometimes games become more than that, and touch you in a way you weren’t expecting. This award celebrates the game that blindsided you emotionally. You weren’t expecting to cry. It wasn’t in the plan. But it happened nonetheless.

The “Best Use Of A Farm Animal” Award
Voting Date: December 29

• ARK: Survival Evolved
• Blood and Bacon
• Farming Simulator 17
• Goat Simulator
• Stardew Valley

Animals are rad and almost any game is better for including them. This game used a farm animal in the best way possible.

The “Boom Boom” Award
Voting Date: December 30

• BroForce
• DOOM
• Just Cause 3
• Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
• Kerbal Space Program

Let’s face it: explosions are pretty great. In a blockbuster movie they’re thrilling. In a celebration with fireworks they’re beautiful. And when they’re behind a cop putting on sunglasses they’re nothing short of glorious. These games understand the fine art of detonation.

The “Love/Hate Relationship” Award
Voting Date: December 30

• Dark Souls III
• Darkest Dungeon
• Dota 2
• Geometry Dash
• Super Meat Boy

“Games are just supposed to be fun!”… oh sweet summer child, your naivety is adorable. Games can be more than fun. They can be challenges that demand perfection. These games are punishing gauntlets that make you question your very skill… a crucible that will push you either to greatness or a breaking point. You will wake up family members as you scream. Words will come out of your mouth that would make your mom blush. Your chill friends will ask you, “Why do you play something that stresses you out?”… and you will stare at them with steely eyes and reply, “Because I love it.”

The “Sit Back and Relax” Award
Voting Date: December 30

• ABZU
• Cities Skylines
• Euro Truck Simulator 2
• Mini Metro
• Viridi

Did you read the description for the “Love/Hate Relationship” Award? This is the opposite.

The “Better With Friends” Award
Voting Date: December 30

• Don’t Starve Together
• Gang Beasts
• Golf With Your Friends
• Left 4 Dead 2
• Magicka

There are some games out there that just aren’t the same when you play by yourself. Maybe you need to have a friend to watch your back. Maybe you need to have a friend that you can stab in the back. Either way, mirth is awaiting those that gather friends to play these games.