The Steam Award Selection Committee nominates a list of games for different categories of honors and achievements. The committee consists of the most important jurors — the players, to vote for games that deserve recognition in certain aspects. The Steam Awards nomination portals for 2021 is open from November 24th to December 1st at 10 am PST. There are 10 types of awards this year. You will be able to nominate your favorite games for each of these awards. The (VR) Game of The Year Award will select its winner based on many factors including immersive gameplay, a catchy and deep story, and innovative design.
The Labor of Love Award will be awarded to a game that has been out for a while, where its developers are still diligently bringing new content to their fans after many years. The Better with Friends Award will be awarded to a game that just feels different when you play by yourself. This game might just give you a lot more fun if you play it with someone you know. The Outstanding Visual Style Award will not necessarily be awarded to a high real-world fidelity art style. It puts more emphasis on how well a distinct art style encapsulates and influences an entire game. The Most Innovative Gameplay Award will recognize a game that leads creative and unprecedented experiments to bring fresh perspectives and mind-blowing surprises. The Best Game You Suck at Award will very likely be rewarded to a difficult game, where it’s challenging and rewarding if one is willing to put enough effort in, but not for the faint of heart. Both The Best Soundtrack Award and The Outstanding Story-Rich Game Award are quite self-explanatory. The Sit Back and Relax Award will be awarded to a game that is relaxing and puts a smile on your face.
Hopefully, these general guidelines can give you a sense of what games you can nominate for each award. If you complete the nomination tasks, you will also earn Steam badges. Don’t miss the chance to nominate your favorite games!