Before you ready those pitchforks, I love Black Myth: Wukong. It’s a great game but a deeply flawed action-adventure that needed more time in the oven.
Despite its performance issues and frustrating invisible walls, Wukong was a blast. I even completed it 100%, making it one of my favorite Platinums of last year.
If I were to pick Steam’s Game of the Year for 2024, it would be Balatro. Creator Localthunk and Jimbo deserve it.
But hear me out—the Steam Awards are ridiculous. We know Valve doesn’t care much about its own awards show, unlike Geoff Keighley’s prestigious The Game Awards.
Again, this has opened the same tired conversation about player’s choice at gaming awards, where popularity often outweighs games that truly deserve recognition.
While I completely agree that some, including Metro Awakening, deserve Best VR Game of the Year (since Batman: Arkham Shadow isn’t on Steam), the rest of the winners are questionable.
So here’s my take on each of them:
Labor of Love Award
You know what? Stardew Valley should take this crown. No Man’s Sky had its fair share of victories a few years ago, so it’s time for Eric Barone’s passion project to get its flowers.
The recent 1.6 update added a truckload of new content to his eight-year-old title. He continues to pour his blood, sweat, and tears into his idyllic life simulator, and I can’t help but respect him.
While I enjoyed FromSoftware’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, it was too easy to pick. More support should be given to a game developed by one person rather than a DLC that abruptly ends after the final boss.
Better with Friends Award
Yep, Helldivers 2 deserves it. I had a blast blowing Tyranids to pieces, especially when my friends and I screamed "Victory and liberty!" at every passing moment.
Despite the controversial comments from its Creative Director and the questionable PSN drama, it was a fun game.
Outstanding Visual Style
Now, this one irked me the most. I loved the Silent Hill 2 remake, but giving it the Outstanding Visual Style award bothered me, especially when Metaphor: ReFantazio or Hades II was in the running.
ATLUS’ multiple award-winning JRPG was essentially a better Persona game, with its unique visual direction, UI, and gameplay.
There’s no way it should have lost to a game covered in fog. Kidding aside, while I would have preferred Hades II (I love Jen Zee’s art) or Metaphor: ReFantazio, the Silent Hill 2 remake winning Outstanding Visual Style just doesn’t sit right with me.
Most Innovative Gameplay
This one really hurt. As much as I enjoy watching people play Liar’s Bar with friends, Balatro was the only game on the list that introduced a completely weird and unhinged gameplay mechanic.
I even wrote an awareness piece about it, highlighting how Balatro’s mix of poker and roguelike elements was addictive. It’s pretty wild, and I hated how much time I spent racking up multipliers and watching my score skyrocket. I hated it, but I loved it, too.
Best Game You Suck At
I know action titles like Black Myth: Wukong can be daunting for newcomers, but it only takes one “git gud” comment to motivate you to beat that boss who killed you ten times.
I disagree with this win, as Tekken 8 was the only game among the nominees that brought me pleasure and frustration.
I love fighting games, but I’m not great at them. That’s why I immediately voted for Tekken 8 when it appeared. I’ve spent hundreds of hours as a Dragunov main (yes, crucify me), and I barely made it out of the Red Ranks.
Black Myth: Wukong only pits you against AI enemies, while Tekken 8 throws you into matches against players like Arslan Ash or some kid who just learned how to read – there’s no in-between.
Best Soundtrack
Come on, Red Dead Redemption, really? Not even paying respect to the legendary Akira Yamaoka? The Silent Hill 2 Remake Soundtrack deserved this win, not Rockstar’s 15-year-old game.
The original Silent Hill 2 soundtrack is hailed as one of the best video game soundtracks of all time. Losing to a game about horses and cowboys is just painful. James Sunderland would surrender in anguish and disappointment.
Outstanding Story-Rich Game
I must be honest – Black Myth: Wukong’s story is not good. Spoiler Alert: You’re literally just a shell trying to become the next reincarnation of the Monkey King. It’s a hollow narrative, only made better by its impressive visuals and satisfying gameplay.
Mouthwashing, on the other hand, should have received this award. It’s one of 2024’s sleeper hits, alongside the science-fiction drama 1000xResist.
The game tells a haunting story about a stranded crew of space haulers surviving daily lives. I won’t spoil it for you, but it’s a deeply unsettling tale that sent shivers down my spine as the credits rolled. It’s not a horror game – it’s just profoundly disturbing.
Now that the Steam Awards voting is over, perhaps it’s time to reflect on these community-voted awards. Sure, there’s nothing inherently wrong with them, but they often bury great titles beneath the weight of popularity. It’s a frustrating trend that continues to undervalue games that truly deserve the spotlight.