Steam Awards 2025: Silksong Wins Game of the Year & Hades II Review
Hollow Knight: Silksong dominates the 2025 Steam Awards as Game of the Year. Discover why it won, read our Hades II Steam Deck analysis, and find the best gaming gifts.
By Team Gimmie
Updated August 27, 2026
THE SILKSONG SWEEP: WHY THE 2025 STEAM AWARDS WERE NEVER IN DOUBT
Let's be honest, the 2025 Steam Awards results are finally in, and Hollow Knight: Silksong snagged Game of the Year. Big shocker, right? If you have been anywhere near a computer since Silksong’s September release—an event so massive it caused a near-meltdown of Steam's distribution servers—you would have seen this coming from a mile away. The internet has been gushing over this game for months, and frankly, I am right there with them. But while the victory lap is well-deserved, Silksong’s dominance raises a very practical question for those looking to buy gifts for the gamers in their lives: Is the most popular game actually the best one to buy?
It is worth noting that Valve also handed out an award for Best Game You Suck At, and Silksong won that, too. This is not just a joke for the community; it is a vital piece of consumer information. While Game of the Year is a badge of honor, it does not always translate to a universally accessible experience. Before you hit purchase, we need to look at what this game actually is and what else defined the gaming landscape of 2025.
THE BRUTAL TRUTH OF THE BEST GAME YOU SUCK AT
When a game wins an award for being difficult, non-gamers might wonder why that is a selling point. Silksong is a masterclass in two specific sub-genres: the Metroidvania and the Soulslike. For the uninitiated, a Metroidvania means the game world is a giant, interconnected map where you have to unlock new abilities to reach new areas. The Soulslike element refers to the combat style—it is rhythmic, punishing, and requires high levels of precision.
In Silksong, players are expected to die. A lot. The "frustration-reward loop" is the core of the experience: you fail at a boss fight twenty times, learn the patterns, and finally succeed on the twenty-first attempt. It provides a massive dopamine hit for a certain type of player, but for someone looking for a relaxing way to unwind after work, it can feel like a second job. If you are buying for a "completionist" who loves a deep challenge, Silksong is the gold standard. If your giftee prefers narrative-driven experiences or cozy simulators, this might be a gift that sits unplayed in their digital library.
