The dawn of 2026 brought a wave of disappointment for followers of Henry of Skalitz. After Kingdom Come: Deliverance II failed to secure any trophies at The Game Awards 2025, the community pinned their final hopes for validation on the Steam Awards.
Many anticipated that a platform driven by player consensus rather than industry critics would finally grant Warhorse Studios’ historical RPG the recognition it deserved. This failed to materialize; the game was shut out of every category, including “Game of the Year” and “Outstanding Story-Rich Game.” In the aftermath, several observers have dubbed KCDII the “biggest snub” of the previous year.
More pragmatic voices within the community suggest that commercial success and technical brilliance do not always translate into victories in popularity-driven contests. Discussions on Reddit indicate that KCDII’s uncompromisingly hardcore nature likely hindered its ability to compete with more mainstream, accessible titles, despite its impressive sales figures and high review scores.
Warhorse’s ambitious project, which prioritizes gritty realism and intricate systems, is frequently compared to the early, punishing titles from FromSoftware. It stands as a specialized experience crafted for history buffs and fans of demanding gameplay—qualities that can make it a difficult sell for a broader, more casual audience.
The 2025 Steam Awards results sparked a surge of online friction, with forums becoming breeding grounds for conspiracy theories and vitriol aimed at winners such as Silksong and Dispatch. Meanwhile, other players have called for a more measured approach, reminding the community that simply being nominated for Game of the Year is an achievement worth celebrating.
Source: iXBT.games