The finalists for the first-ever Steam Awards are in, and it’s clear that the Steam community still loves plenty of older titles that may not have gotten their due back in the day. Valve did not restrict the field of potential nominees to games that debuted in 2016. As such, the majority of nominated titles were released prior to this year, including veritable classics like 2011’s Portal 2 and more niche titles such as 2013’s Euro Truck Simulator 2.
The Steam community’s memory stretches even further into the past, with one of the nominees — Facepunch Studios’ Garry’s Mod, a Half-Life 2 mod that became a stand-alone product — having been released a decade ago, in November 2006. And another game on the list is Age of Empires 2: HD Edition, a 2013 remaster of a game that debuted all the way back in 1999.
Valve laid out the criteria for eight of the awards, going for creative categories such as the “Whoooaaaaaaa, dude!” Award rather than, say, “Best Sports/Racing Game.” The company had planned for Steam users to write in suggestions for the ninth and final award. But citing the “overwhelming response” to the Steam Awards — more than 15 million nominations in all — Valve decided to add a total of four community-created awards.
Voting for the 2016 Steam Awards will begin at 10 a.m. PT on Thursday, Dec. 22, and will run for nine days. Each of the eight Valve-defined categories will be up for voting for 24 hours, while the voting for all four community awards will take place Dec. 30. Valve will announce the winners on Dec. 31; you can see the full list of categories and nominees below.
The “Villain Most in Need of a Hug” Award
Some people just need a hug.
Voting begins Dec. 22, 10 a.m. PT
- Borderlands 2
- Dead by Daylight
- Far Cry 3
- Far Cry 4
- Portal 2
The “I Thought This Game Was Cool Before It Won an Award” Award
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.
Voting begins Dec. 23, 10 a.m. PT
- Euro Truck Simulator 2
- Paladins
- Starbound
- Stardew Valley
- Unturned
The “Test of Time" Award
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.
Voting begins Dec. 24, 10 a.m. PT
- Age of Empires 2: HD Edition
- The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
- Sid Meier’s Civilization 5
- Team Fortress 2
- Terraria
The “Just 5 More Minutes” Award
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.
Voting begins Dec. 25, 10 a.m. PT
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Rocket League
- Sid Meier’s Civilization 6
- Fallout 4
- Terraria
The “Whoooaaaaaaa, dude!” Award
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.
Voting begins Dec. 26, 10 a.m. PT
- BioShock Infinite
- Doom
- Grand Theft Auto 5
- Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The “Game Within a Game Award” Award
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.
Voting begins Dec. 27, 10 a.m. PT
- Garry's Mod
- Grand Theft Auto 5
- The Stanley Parable
- Tabletop Simulator
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The “I’m Not Crying, There’s Something in My Eye” Award
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.
Voting begins Dec. 28, 10 a.m. PT
- Life is Strange
- To the Moon
- This War of Mine
- Undertale
- The Walking Dead
The “Best Use of a Farm Animal” Award
Animals are rad and almost any game is better for including them. This game used a farm animal in the best way possible.
Voting begins Dec. 29, 10 a.m. PT
- Ark: Survival Evolved
- Blood and Bacon
- Farming Simulator 17
- Goat Simulator
- Stardew Valley
The “Boom Boom” Award
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.
- Broforce
- Doom
- Just Cause 3
- Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
- Kerbal Space Program
The “Love/Hate Relationship” Award
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.”
- Dark Souls 3
- Darkest Dungeon
- Dota 2
- Geometry Dash
- Super Meat Boy
The “Sit Back and Relax” Award
Did you read the description for the “Love/Hate Relationship” Award? This is the opposite.
- Abzu
- Cities: Skylines
- Euro Truck Simulator 2
- Mini Metro
- Viridi
The “Better With Friends” Award
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.
- Don’t Starve Together
- Gang Beasts
- Golf With Your Friends
- Left 4 Dead 2
- Magicka
Source: Polygon
