Steam’s Game of the Year for 2025 Shouldn’t Be a Surprise

by

2025 was a fantastic year for Steam, offering a wide variety of fun and innovative games. From clever puzzle games like The Blue Prince to big action titles like ARC Raiders and highly-rated RPGs such as Clair Obscura: Expedition 33, there was something for everyone. Clair Obscura: Expedition 33 particularly stood out, earning significant critical acclaim throughout the year.

Many prominent groups, like The Game Awards, chose Clair Obscura as Game of the Year, and it deserved the recognition. However, its success began to dominate conversations, overshadowing other excellent games. Now, with votes from over 43 million Steam users tallied, a different game has been chosen – and it’s a popular and understandable choice.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Is Steam’s Game Of The Year

Wow, Hollow Knight: Silksong really took the gaming world by storm in 2025! I remember when it first came out in September – it hit over half a million players at its peak on Steam, which is incredible. It got amazing reviews, and everyone was talking about it. It quickly became one of the best games of the year, even though it was seriously challenging! While it’s not always at the very top of Steam’s sales charts now, it definitely left its mark as one of the most defining games of 2025, and I was so excited to see it win Steam’s Game of the Year award – a perfect way to start the new year!

Despite its difficulty, Hollow Knight: Silksong was a hit with Steam users, winning Game of the Year with a massive 43.8 million votes. It beat out popular titles like ARC Raiders, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Dispatch, and King Come II: Deliverance. Players also acknowledged the game’s challenging nature, awarding it the “Best Game You Suck At” award. This is a remarkable achievement for Silksong, particularly when considering the many awards earned by its competitors throughout the year.

Silksong’s Popularity Vote Is A Win Over Clair Obscura

While 2025 offered many excellent games, it was largely remembered for the massive success of Clair Obscura: Expedition 33. The expansive RPG resonated with both players and critics, earning a record number of nominations and awards. However, its victories have been followed by controversy, specifically accusations that the developers used generative AI during its creation. Though the developers stated they quickly abandoned the idea, these claims have tarnished the game’s reputation with some fans, and even led to the revocation of its “Game of the Year” award from the Indie Game Awards.

Although Clair Obscura is still well-loved by players (and even won a Steam award for its soundtrack), it’s no longer consistently winning major accolades like it was late last year. Hollow Knight: Silksong was frequently a strong contender against Clair Obscura for these awards, often playing second fiddle. In fact, the developers of Silksong even predicted Clair Obscura would win at the Game Awards before the event. That’s why Silksong winning Steam’s Game of the Year feels so rewarding, and explains the negative reaction some other games received.

Why Silksong Is The Perfect Game For Steam

Beyond the continued excitement for Hollow Knight: Silksong, the game seems perfectly suited for Steam players. Its gameplay builds on classic game design principles, appealing to those who enjoy retro-style games, while its beautiful art and polished presentation will attract players who prioritize visual quality. The game’s difficulty also encourages players to push their skills and fully immerse themselves – something gamers often look for.

The highly anticipated game Silksong is a perfect match for the Steam Deck, with its focus on exploration and natural design making it ideal for handheld play. While Hades 2 won a Steam Award, Silksong‘s popularity likely contributed to its win, potentially boosted by the recent AI-related discussions surrounding Clair Obscura. The game was incredibly popular with players, so much so that the Steam and Xbox Store servers briefly crashed due to the high volume of people trying to play. Although it didn’t win all the major awards from critics, Silksong‘s success at the Steam Awards clearly demonstrates just how popular it is with gamers.

Read More

2026-01-07 00:44