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It goes without saying how much we have all loved and enjoyed the Steam Deck here, but we still get giddy and excited every time it is showcased elsewhere! Today, we had the chance to be giddy once more. Earlier today, the 42nd annual Golden Joystick Awards took place, and there were a lot of very obvious winners here. Balatro won the Critics Choice award, and Black Myth: Wukong took home the Ultimate Game of the Year, but the Steam Deck was still there and took home the Best Gaming Hardware award!

SteamDeckOLEDGoldenJoystickAward

Specifically, the Steam Deck OLED won this award, and while it was released last year, it was towards the end of the year after the last Golden Joystick Awards show aired. While we may feel it was the obvious choice, there were a lot of competitors that did give the device a run for its money. The ROG Ally X is a solid choice for a more powerful handheld, even if it is more expensive, and there are a couple of upcoming handhelds using the new Ryzen AI chip that looks like it could be worthwhile, too.

Regardless, Valve definitely deserves congratulations for creating such a great handheld and essentially making the handheld PC market more consumer-friendly thanks to the lower cost of entry. I can't wait to see what is going to be next, and I look forward to any next-generation hardware that will be coming from this as well.

Here is the full list of all Golden Joystick Award 2024 winners:

  • Best Audio Design - Astro Bot
  • Best Soundtrack - Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
  • Best Storytelling - Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
  • Best Multiplayer Game - Helldivers 2
  • Best Visual Design - Black Myth: Wukong
  • Best Indie Game - Balatro
  • Best Indie Game (Self-published) - Another Crab's Treasure
  • Studio of the Year - Team Asobi (Astro Bot)
  • Best Lead Performer - Cody Christian (Cloud, Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth)
  • Best Supporting Performer - Briana White (Aerith, Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth)
  • Breakthrough Award (Critics Choice) - Balatro
  • Still Playing Award (Console & PC) - Minecraft
  • Still Playing Award (Mobile) - Honkai: Star Rail
  • PC Game of the Year - Satisfactory
  • Console Game of the Year - Helldivers 2
  • Most Wanted Game - GTA 6
  • Critics' Choice Award - Helldivers 2
  • Best Game Expansion - Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
  • Best Gaming Hardware - Steam Deck OLED
  • Best Early Access Game - Lethal Company
  • Best Game Trailer - Helldivers 2
  • Streamers' Choice Award - Chained Together
  • Best Game Adaptation - Fallout
  • Ultimate Game of the Year - Black Myth Wukong

If you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of the content on SteamDeckHQ! We have a wide variety of game reviews and news that will help your gaming experience. Whether you're looking for news, tips and tutorials, game settings and reviews, or just want to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, we've got you covered!

Noah Kupetsky
A lover of gaming since 4, Noah has grown up with a love and passion for the industry. From there, he started to travel a lot and develop a joy for handheld and PC gaming. When the Steam Deck released, it just all clicked.
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