Players, critics, streamers, influencers, creators, and everyone in between, it’s that exciting time of the year when we vote for the best games to appear on the Steam platform. We already have the nominees in mind, and now we’re in charge of selecting the winner within 11 distinctive categories. 2022 saw plenty of high-flying triple-A releases and indie surprises, with Steam accumulating the best of the best to properly sign off for the year. Voting for the 2022 Steam Awards will be brief, for the deadline is quickly approaching.

The Best in Gaming: Steam Awards 2022 Honors a Plentitude of Titles

As gamers, we all tend to gravitate toward certain titles that fit our preferences. We can all be picky, but this year brought in an abundance of different digital experiences. Branching out is completely normal, and 2022 certainly delivered new and unique gaming adventures.

With this in mind, the 2022 Steam Awards feature 11 categories where you can freely cast your vote. Each category has five games to choose from, complemented by some footage and information to go with the respective grouping.

2022 Nominees

Here is the complete list of nominees for the Steam Awards:

  • Game of the Year – Dying Light 2: Stay Human, Elden Ring, Stray, God of War, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
  • VR Game of the Year – BONELAB, Hitman III, Green Hell VR, Among Us VR, Inside the Backrooms
  • Labor of Love – Dota 2, Project Zomboid, No Man’s Sky, Deep Rock Galactic, Cyberpunk 2077
  • Better with Friends – Raft, Ready or Not, Monster Hunter Rise, Multiversus, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
  • Outstanding Visual Style – Scorn, Bendy and the Dark Revival, Cult of the Lamb, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Kena: Bridge of Spirits
  • Most Innovative Gameplay – Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, Teardown, Stray, Neon White, Dome Keeper
  • Best Game You Suck At – GTFO, Victoria, Total War: Warhammer III, Elden Ring, FIFA 23
  • Best Soundtrack – Metal: Hellsinger, Sonic Frontiers, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Persona 5 Royal, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix+
  • Outstanding Story-Rich Game – A Plague Tale: Requiem, God of War, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
  • Sit Back and Relax – LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Power Wash Simulator, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Dorkromantik, Slime Rancher 2
  • Best Game on the Go – Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, Vampire Survivors, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, Brotato, Marvel Snap

Voting will cease on January 3 at 9 AM PST, where then afterward, the winners will be announced at 10 AM PST. In addition to voting, Steam users will receive a random trading card from this season‘s Winter Sale. Therefore, be sure to vote now to see what gems you can acquire before voting is ultimately cut off!

Which games are you voting for? Is your favorite title included in one of the categories? Let us know!