Explore the unforgettable winners of the 2017 Steam Awards, where player-voted favorites and legendary games created lasting memories.
It's 2026, and sometimes the best way to look forward is to take a moment and look back. I was scrolling through some old gaming archives recently and stumbled upon the results of the 2017 Steam Awards. It wasn't your typical critics' choice list—this was a celebration completely shaped by the players. It's a fascinating time capsule that mixed the shiny new releases of that incredible year with enduring community favorites that had already carved out their permanent spots in our hearts and libraries.
That year was absolutely stacked with unforgettable games, but what made the Steam Awards special was their unique, player-voted categories. They weren't just about technical polish or sales figures; they were about feeling. The winners tell a story about what players truly valued, from heart-pounding tension to peaceful escape.
Let's dive into that iconic winners list. It's a beautiful blend of the new and the timeless.
The New Kings of 2017
The fresh hits that defined the year walked away with some very fitting honors. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), the game that basically created the modern battle royale craze, won 'Mom’s Spaghetti'—a perfect name for that pre-drop, nervous-excited feeling. Then there was Cuphead, the gorgeous, punishing run-and-gunner. It didn't just win one award; it won two: 'Best Soundtrack' for its incredible jazz and big band score, and 'Even Better Than I Expected', capturing the community's surprise and delight at its quality.
The Evil Within 2 took home 'Whoooaaaaaaa, Dude! 2.0', a trophy for its mind-bending, reality-warping horror. These were the titles we were all talking about, playing, and streaming in 2017.
The Evergreen Legends
This is where the awards got really interesting. Games that weren't new in 2017 but were clearly still dominating playtime and affection won big. CD Projekt Red's masterpiece, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, won 'Choices Matter', a testament to its deep, narrative-impacting role-playing years after its release. Its much older predecessor, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition, even won 'No Apologies', a nod to its classic, unvarnished charm.
Then you had the ultimate cozy game, Stardew Valley, winning 'The World Is Grim Enough Let’s Just All Get Along'. Isn't that just perfect? In a world of conflict, players voted to honor a game about community, farming, and simple peace. Garry's Mod, the infinite sandbox, won 'Defies Description'—because how do you explain it to someone? You just have to play it.
Other perennial favorites like Warframe ('Labor of Love' for its relentless updates), Rocket League ('Suspension of Disbelief' for its soccer-with-cars chaos), and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive ('Haunts My Dreams') all showed that a game's journey doesn't end at launch.
Why This List Still Resonates
Looking back from 2026, this list feels incredibly prescient. Many of these "old favorites" from 2017 are still powerhouse titles today, supported by developers and loved by communities. The awards highlighted a shift we now take for granted: games as ongoing services and experiences, not just products. The 'Labor of Love' award for Warframe might be one of the most forward-thinking categories ever created.
| Category | Winner (2017) | Why It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Choices Matter | The Witcher 3 | Branching narratives with real consequences. |
| Mom’s Spaghetti | PUBG | Pure, unadulterated pre-match nerves and adrenaline. |
| Labor of Love | Warframe | Years of consistent, massive free updates. |
| Soul Of Vitruvius | Rise of the Tomb Raider | Praised for its artistic design and beauty. |
Reflecting on this, it's clear the 2017 Steam Awards were less about crowning a single 'Game of the Year' and more about painting a broad, vibrant picture of the PC gaming landscape. It celebrated the blockbusters, the indie darlings, the weird sandboxes, and the decade-old classics all at once. It was a reminder that a game's impact isn't confined to its release year. Its legacy is written by the players, log-in after log-in, year after year. That's a philosophy that has only grown stronger in the gaming world since.