Valve updated Steam's official store tags on May 19 by adding 17 new tags and removing 28 old ones from the platform's tagging system [1, 2, 3, 4]. The added tags cover new genres like Wuxia, Xianxia, Samurai, and Espionage, as well as mechanics such as Organizing, Cleaning, and Decorating. Other new tags include Bullet Heaven, Desktop Companion, Wolves, Capybaras, Poker, Language Learning, Zoo, and Cult [5, 1, 2, 6, 3, 4].
Removed tags include NSFW, Adult, Mature, Workplace Unsuitable, Blood, Crowdfunding, Drama, Masterpiece, and IP-specific tags such as Warhammer 40K and LEGO [1, 2, 6, 3, 4]. Valve explained that many removed tags overlapped heavily with more descriptive categories like Gore, Sexual Content, and Violence, or were too subjective or rarely used [1, 2, 6, 3, 4]. The NSFW and Mature tags, for example, closely overlapped with tags indicating explicit content [6].
Alongside additions and removals, Valve also renamed and merged some tags to improve clarity and consistency. "Clicker" was renamed "Incremental," "Pool" changed to "Billiards" to avoid confusion, and "Jet" merged into "Flight." The tag "Low Tolerance" merged into "Hard," and many tags were pluralized when appropriate [1, 2, 3, 4].
Tags can be applied by developers, users with full accounts, and Steam moderators. Valve said this results in tag assignments that evolve organically over time [5, 1, 2]. Steam's most common tags remain Singleplayer, covering approximately 62% of games, and Indie at about 53% [3, 4].
The removal of the Steam RPGMaker tag was noted by developers as a positive change, reducing stigma around RPGMaker games and improving discoverability of quality titles made with that engine [7].
Valve stated, "Tags help developers better describe their game to players, but also help Steam understand what kind of game it is and show it accordingly to players via recommendations" [5]. The updated tag system went into effect on May 19.
