Beyond the Hype: How Silksong’s Brutal "Act 3" and Deep Systems Earned It Steam’s Top Honor

It’s official: Hollow Knight: Silksong is the Steam Awards 2025 Game of the Year.While the industry critics at The Game Awards crowned Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the millions of voters on Steam have declared Hornet’s journey the superior experience. But this win isn’t just a popularity contest—it’s a recognition of a game that dared to hide its best content behind a wall of difficulty.

The "Best Game You Suck At"

To understand why Silksong won, you have to look at its other award: "Best Game You Suck At." This category is usually reserved for masochistic delights, and Silksong fits the bill perfectly. Since its release in September, players have been humbled by the kingdom of Pharloom. The new trailer and subsequent gameplay guides have highlighted just how hostile this world is.

We’re seeing players obsess over the "Hunter’s March," an early-game area infested with Red Ants that serves as a brutal skill check. It’s technically optional, but the loot hidden there—specifically the upgrades to Hornet’s acrobatic moveset—makes it a siren song for the ambitious. This risk-reward dynamic is the beating heart of Silksong. The game doesn’t just punish you; it dares you to be better. The fact that it won GOTY alongside this difficulty award suggests that players are craving experiences that push back.

The Mystery of the "Missing" Third Act

Perhaps the most discussed element of Silksong’s design since launch has been its structure. The discovery that Act 3 is entirely missable is a narrative and mechanical coup. In an era where games often drag on too long, Silksong hides a massive chunk of its content behind obscure requirements involving the "Apostate Key" and the "Slab" prison break sequence.

This obscurity created a massive community effort to solve the game's riddles. The "Mist" area, where the in-game map becomes unreliable, forced players to draw their own charts and share theories online. This kind of organic community engagement is exactly what drives votes in a user-led award show. While Expedition 33 dazzled with its soundtrack (which rightfully won Best Soundtrack), it didn't generate the same feverish "water cooler" moments of discovery that Silksong did.

Economy and Ecology

The new information circulating around the win also shines a light on the game's economy. The dual-currency system—Rosaries for trade and Shell Shards for crafting—forces players to make tough choices. We’ve learned that Rosaries are essential for unlocking fast travel points in the late game, leading to a "hoarding" meta that raises the stakes of every death.

Combined with the ecological storytelling—like the "Fleas" side quest that asks you to return lost insects to their family for unique rewards—the world feels alive and reactive. It’s not just a backdrop for boss fights; it’s an ecosystem that you have to learn to survive in.

Hollow Knight: Silksong didn’t win the Steam Award because it was the most hyped game of 2025. It won because it was the most played and discussed game. By trusting its audience to navigate a labyrinthine world without waypoints, and by hiding its true ending behind a skill wall, Team Cherry treated players with respect. In return, the players gave them the crown. Expedition 33 might be the critic's darling, but Silksong is the gamer’s obsession.