Steam Awards 2023 nominees – how to vote for winners to get rewards

The year is coming to an end meaning the best games of 2023 are being celebrated. We have been spoiled with a slew of incredible video game releases this year, and Christmas is about to come early with the annual Steam Winter Sale. Not only does this bring a bunch of bargains and massive discounts, but it also brings the Steam Awards 2023. The Steam Awards 2023 nominees have been revealed, and anyone can vote for the winners to get rewards for each category.

While the upcoming Winter Sale is exciting, so too is Epic Games’ holiday discounts. The festive discounts have already begun on EGS, and Epic is giving away 17 free mystery games during December. And, away from discounts and sales, there are in-game events such as the upcoming ARK Survival Ascended Winter Wonderland. ARK Survival Ascended is not nominated for any awards, but it’s a fantastic early-access title for ASE fans and people who just generally like multiplayer survival games.

All of the above is great, but it’s the Steam Winter Sale that people look anticipate the most every year. This year’s event promises to be just as big as ever, and, as always, you can vote for who you want to win each awards category.

Steam Awards 2023 nominees

Below are all the Steam Awards 2023 nominees:

Game of the year: 

• Baldur’s Gate 3
•  Lethal Company
•  EA Sports FC 24
•  Hogwarts Legacy
•  Resident Evil 4 Remake

My pick: Baldur’s Gate 3

VR Game of the Year: 

• I Expected You To Die 3
•  Gorilla Tag
•  Labyrinthine
•  Ghosts of Tabor
•  F1 23

My pick: Labyrinthine

Labor of Love Award:

• Red Dead Redemption 2
•  Rust
•  DOTA 2
•  Apex Legends
•  Deep Rock Galactic

My pick: DOTA 2

Best game on Steam Deck: 

• Hogwarts Legacy
•  Outlast Trials
•  Dredge
•  Diablo 4
•  Brotato

My pick: Hogwarts Legacy

Better with Friends award: 

• Sunkenland
•  Sons of the Forest
•  Lethal Company
•  Darktide
•  Party Animals

My Pick: Lethal Company

Outstanding visual style award:

• Cocoon
•  Darkest Dungeon
•  High on Life
•  Atomic Heart
•  Inward

My pick: Cocoon

Most innovative gameplay award: 

• Starfield
•  Shadows of Doubt
•  Your Only Move is Hustle
•  Remnant II
•  Contraband Police

My pick: Shadows of Doubt

Best game you suck at award:

• Sifu
•  Street Fighter 6
•  EA Sports FC 24
•  Overwatch 2
•  Lords of the Fallen

My pick: Street Fighter 6

Best soundtrack:

• Hi-Fi Rush
•  The Last of Us Part 1
•  Chants of Senaar
•  Persona 5 Tactica
•  Pizza Tower

My pick: Hi-Fi Rush

Outstanding story-rich game award:

• Baldur’s Gate 3
•  Star Wars Jedi Survivor
•  Lies of P
•  Love is All Around
•  Resident Evil 4 Remake

My pick: Baldur’s Gate 3

Sit back and relax award: 

• Dave the Diver
•  Coral Island
•  Potion Craft
•  Train Sim World 4
•  Cities Skylines 2

My pick: Coral Island

How to vote for winners

You can vote for the Steam Awards 2023 winners as soon as the Steam Winter Sale 2023 starts. You can only cast one vote for each of the categories, and any non-limited account can vote. The power to vote lasts until 10 AM PT/ 1 PM ET/ 6 PM GMT on January 2nd, and you can change your vote before the end date.

As for what you get for voting, the rewards are a sticker for each of the eleven categories. Meanwhile, the developers who win will get a ‘beautiful physical Steam Awards trophy shipped to the developers’ offices and a virtual trophy on the game’s store page’.

Admittedly, some of the nominees are strange. EA Sports FC 24 for Game of the Year is bewildering, as is Red Dead Redemption 2 for Labor of Love. Starfield for Most Innovative Gameplay is a headscratcher, too. But, at the end of the day, the nominees were decided by people on Steam, so all of the nominees and winners are reflective of you, the gamers.