Valve revamps the tag system on Steam to enhance game discoverability

Valve has revamped its tagging mechanism on Steam by adding 17 new categories, removing 28, and reorganizing several others.

Tags like 'NSFW' and 'Mature' were cut as they largely duplicated descriptors such as 'Gore', 'Violent', and 'Sexual Content', as explained by Valve.

Labels such as 'Well-Written' and 'Masterpiece' were discarded due to inconsistency and disputes in their usage. Additionally, tags like 'Drama' and 'Ambient' have been dropped as they pertained to a limited number of products.

Tags denoting specific franchises, like Lego and Warhammer 40k, have been removed because dedicated franchise pages are already available for these titles.

New tags include specific content themes like 'Wolves' and 'Zoo', broader categories such as 'Bullet Haven' and 'Desktop Companion', and gameplay mechanics like 'Organising' and 'Decorating'.

Some tags have been renamed or combined to reduce redundancy and improve clarity.

An example being 'Pool', which was often used for swimming pool-related games, is now termed 'Billiards' to more accurately describe cue-based games.

Valve stated, "These modifications aim to assist players in finding games that cater to their preferences and help Steam provide more accurate game recommendations."

You can view the complete list of tag updates here.

In the previous year, Valve introduced accessibility-focused tags on Steam, supporting disabled gamers in discovering inclusive games while aiding developers in highlighting accessibility features.

GamesIndustry.biz also interviewed TinyBuild CEO Alex Nichiporchik about Steam tags' significance.

Nichiporchik mentioned, "Based on your gaming habits and the associated tags, many personalized recommendations are provided. Had we launched [The King is Watching] a few years earlier, its performance might not have been as strong since our wish lists were specifically curated for this niche audience."

He added, "Initially, Valve's choices were unexpected for developers and publishers, but now they allow finding a well-defined niche for your game."