### Hollow Knight: Silksong Receives Steam’s Game of the Year Award for 2025
In a major achievement for the Metroidvania genre, *Hollow Knight: Silksong* has secured Steam’s Game of the Year (GOTY) accolade for 2025. This accomplishment is notable for the title, which has contended against significant challengers, particularly *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, which has excelled in recent awards events like the Game Awards. As we transition into 2026, *Silksong* is garnering the accolades it merits, coinciding with Valve’s Steam reaching a record high in concurrent players.
Facing off against prominent games like *Clair Obscur*, *Arc Raiders*, *Dispatch*, and *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2*, *Silksong*’s victory as the top game on Steam is a remarkable achievement. During the holiday period, it has emerged as the leading title on the platform, building a player base that peaked at over 450,000 concurrent players.
#### Steam Awards 2025: Complete Winners List
The yearly Steam Awards are decided solely by user votes, representing the preferences of the gaming community. Here’s the complete list of winners for 2025:
– **VR Game of the Year:** *The Midnight Walk*
– **Labor of Love:** *Baldur’s Gate 3*
– **Best Game on Steam Deck:** *Hades 2*
– **Better with Friends:** *Peak*
– **Outstanding Visual Style:** *Silent Hill f*
– **Most Innovative Gameplay:** *Arc Raiders*
– **Best Game You Suck At:** *Hollow Knight: Silksong*
– **Best Soundtrack:** *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*
– **Outstanding Story-Rich Game:** *Dispatch*
– **Sit Back and Relax:** *RV There Yet*
Although some might contend that the Steam Awards resemble a popularity contest, they offer a chance for worthy games to be recognized across various categories. It’s invigorating to witness a range of titles and distinctive genres highlighted.
#### A Change in Recognition
The differing outcomes between the Steam Awards and the Game Awards underline a transformation in audience opinion. While *Clair Obscur* frequently excelled at major ceremonies, *Silksong* found it challenging to gain traction, missing out on even the Player’s Voice award, which was given to the free-to-play gacha title *Wuthering Waves*.
The Steam Awards are recognized as the largest community-voted awards in the gaming industry. With a staggering total of over 41 million concurrent players recently reported, the platform’s vast user base plays a vital role in honoring gaming excellence. While it may not be on track to surpass platforms like *Roblox*, the success of the Steam Awards is encouraging news for developers seeking to engage with a broad audience on Valve’s platform.
In summary, *Hollow Knight: Silksong*’s victory not only signifies a success for the game itself but also for the community that backs it, celebrating a varied and flourishing gaming landscape.
