Larian has yet another feather to put in its cap
As expected, Baldur’s Gate 3 clinches the Game of the Year award at the 2023 Steam Awards, also earning the title of Outstanding Story-Rich Game. While the game’s excellence might have warranted more accolades, Steam Awards regulations limit nominations to a maximum of two categories, presumably to prevent overwhelming victories.
This Steam Awards triumph adds to the previous Game of the Year honors at The Game Awards and the Golden Joysticks, completing Baldur’s Gate 3’s impressive Game of the Year trifecta—a true GOAT of GOTYs. Back in 2019, when the announcement for a new Baldur’s Gate surfaced, who would have anticipated that the quirky RPG studio from Ghent would become such a dominant force in the video game landscape, thriving on both PC and console platforms? Here we stand in 2024, and if there was a trophy to be won, Larian Studios undoubtedly took it home.
“After more than 40 million votes, we’re delighted that Baldur’s Gate 3 has won Game of the Year AND Outstanding Story-Rich Game in this year’s Steam Awards,” Larian tweeted. “Thank you all for supporting Baldur’s Gate 3.”
The Steam Awards are a different sort of beast than many other videogame awards, in that nominations and winners are selected entirely through fan voting during Steam’s Autumn and Winter Sales. That can lead to some unexpected and, frankly, confusing results: Red Dead Redemption 2, for instance, hasn’t been updated for years but nonetheless earned the Labor of Love award for ongoing new content releases, while Starfield, which has been widely criticized for its failure to meaningfully innovate on the Bethesda RPG Formula won the Most Innovative Gameplay award.
When it comes to Baldur’s Gate 3, there’s little surprise, and there was hardly any risk of another game seizing its crown. BG3 dominated 2023, securing five Golden Joystick awards and an additional six at The Game Awards, along with numerous accolades from independent gaming outlets.
“Thank you each and every one of you who voted for us!” tweeted Larian boss Swen Vincke in response to the Steam Awards win. “What a great way to start the new year. We’re very grateful for all the reviews you’ve been posting—there is nothing more motivating for a developer than seeing their players appreciate their work. Thank you!”
The winning streak continues: Baldur’s Gate 3 leads the BAFTA’s Best Games of 2023 longlist with 15 nominations. The complete BAFTA nominations will be unveiled on March 7, followed by an awards ceremony on April 11.