Paul Tibbetts

This isn’t “The Game Awards” because I didn’t play every game that came out, even though I tried to.

I’ll be using the same categories as the Steam Awards.

Game of the Year: Helldivers 2

I didn’t play the first game so this one came out of nowhere for me, finding out about it from all the news coverage it generated when it came out, which is always a good start.

It didn’t take long before I was calling this the best 4 player co-op game since Left for Dead 2.

There’s countless videos about it, and I’m pretty certain this isn’t the first time you’re hearing about it, so I’ll be brief:

This game is better than the cutscenes in other games.

It’s also a better Starship Troopers game than the official Starship Troopers game.

VR Game of the Year: Half Life: Alyx

I bought a PSVR2 this year because it went on sale at the same time I found I had store credit at Game.

I really haven’t used it much since then.

I bought some games for the PS5, like Horizon Zero Dawn: Call of the Mountain, which I enjoyed, but then I plugged it into my PC and tried Half Life: Alyx and was blown away by the level of detail.

So even if it didn’t come out this year, HL:A wins it for me.

The winner of the Steam Awards was Metro Awakening VR and as a fan of the Metro series I guess I’ll have to try it some time.

Labour of Love: Dying Light

I know they’re all amazing games but I haven’t played any of the finalists for this category on the Steam Awards, so I had to check my own library.

When a friend bought a new PC, Dying Light was an easy choice to welcome him back to PC gaming. It came out over a decade ago and has been supported ever since, meaning it holds up to this day.

Best Game on Steam Deck

I don’t own a Steam Deck so I’m not qualified to answer this.

God of War: Ragnarok’s a good game and I haven’t tried the other finalists so I’ll go with that.

My friend liked playing Spiderman but to me that’s a big screen game.

Actually so is God of War.

This is why I don’t own a Steam Deck.

Better with Friends: Space Marine 2

All multiplayer games are better with friends, but the biggest difference is in Space Marine 2.

I don’t want to play it on my own. I don’t want to play it with randoms.

I want to be facing the swarm knowing my brother’s got my back.

For the Emperor!

Outstanding Visual Style: Age of Mythology: Retold

I’m bending the rules for this one.

Whilst any of the games on this list look outstanding I’m awarding this to AoM:R because when the original game came out I lent it to a friend, on a CD(!), and didn’t get it back, so Retold has given me a chance to see what I missed.

The graphics have been brought up to date and the quality of life improvements make this a solid remaster.

Most Innovative Gameplay: Enshrouded

Enshrouded was a gamble that my friends and I took when one of them bought a gaming PC and wanted to try something new and different.

At first I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but as we carried on I realised the fact this game is powered by a voxel based engine unlocked new gameplay opportunities.

In most games throwing an explosive at someone on a ledge might knock them off. In Enshrouded, it destroys the ledge itself, bringing your enemy down to you.

🤯

Best Game You Suck At: The Finals

This could have also won the most innovative gameplay award because of it’s server-based destruction system, but it’s the best game I suck at, even if I don’t want to admit that.

Best Soundtrack: Frostpunk 2

I loved the original Frostpunk and had to get the sequel. I don’t remember it for its soundtrack, but it kept me company the many times I was rejected as leader and thrown out into the snow.

Outstanding Story-Rich Game: Red Dead Redemption 2

Apparently I didn’t play many story rich games this year. I was and still am very excited for Stalker 2 , which has a heartbreaking behind-the-scenes story to go with it, but I haven’t tried it yet.

For the Christmas break this year I found myself continuing on from where I left Arthur and the gang the last time I played this, so RDR2 wins this category for me.

Sit Back and Relax: Dave the Diver

This award almost went to Goobies, which helps me turn my brain off, but it gets beaten by Dave the Diver for that moment you unlock a new sushi recipe for your restaurant and the music plays and then the fish looks at the camera.