One other yr on this godforsaken rock is grinding to an in depth, and you understand what meaning: award season! The Golden Joysticks simply wrapped up, The Recreation Awards are coming, and to kill a while in between now you can nominate your video games of alternative for the 2025 Steam Awards.I might truly puzzled how Steam Awards nominations could be dealt with in 2025. Sometimes it occurs through the Steam Autumn Sale, however with Valve shifting the Autumn Sale again a pair months to present us a correct break earlier than the Winter Sale hits, that wasn’t going to be an choice. The reply was apparent in hindsight: Simply make a complete different sale and cram it in there, which is strictly what Valve did with Steam’s first ever Black Friday Sale.The nomination course of for this yr’s Steam Awards will simplify issues for you by itemizing eligible video games you have performed in 2025, in addition to offering a rundown of “in style and really useful video games” should you’re extra fascinated with being on the profitable workforce than in throwing your help behind one thing you truly loved.
Greatest picks for you
There appears to be some form of obscure eligibility necessities for the advice listings, though I have not been capable of suss out precisely what: For the Greatest Recreation You Suck At class, as an illustration, I am advised I have not performed any eligible video games this yr, and I can guarantee you I suck at an ideal many videogames.
(Picture credit score: Valve)(PC Gamer US editor-in-chief Tyler Wilde advised that is truly proof that I’m good in any respect videogames, however no. I could not know what is going on on right here, however I do know it ain’t that.)Likewise for the Greatest Soundtrack Award, Steam tells me the one eligible recreation I’ve performed within the class is Recent Tracks, despite the fact that I do know full nicely that I’ve performed different 2025 releases with standalone soundtracks.Fortuitously, it would not actually matter: You possibly can write in just about any recreation you need in every class, and so long as it was launched in 2025 (or previous to 2025, within the case of the Labor of Love class), it will be high quality.Maintain updated with crucial tales and the most effective offers, as picked by the PC Gamer workforce.And since that is the nomination course of, the whole lot is extensive open: If you wish to nominate Bongo Cat for Excellent Story-Wealthy Recreation Award, nicely, you are able to do that. (And I feel you must.)
(Picture credit score: Valve)On the opposite facet of the coin, the listing of video games I’ve performed beneath the Sit Again and Loosen up class is spot on: Bongo Cat, clearly (Bongo Cat is all over the place) but in addition Herdling, Crashlands 2, Vegetation vs. Zombies: Replanted, and Discover My Frogs. It is an ideal listing of laid-back 2025 video games, and that makes me marvel why so many different classes really feel so random.Anyway, you might have till December 1 to appoint your favorites for the 2025 Steam Awards—as in earlier years, nominating a recreation will get you the “Steam Awards Nomination Committee” badge, which could be upgraded by way of 4 ranges by finishing subsequent duties. Voting on the 5 finalists in every class will happen through the Steam Winter Sale, which begins on December 14. Winners shall be introduced when that sale ends on January 3.Greatest PC construct 2025All our favourite gear
