A Comprehensive Look at the Best-Selling and Most-Played Titles on Steam in 2023
Steam, the powerhouse in the PC gaming realm, has pulled back the curtain on its “Best of 2023” list, providing gamers with insights into the top-performing titles based on sales and playtime across various platforms, including PC, Steam Deck, VR, and controllers.
The categorization comprises Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers, with the top 12 games in each group earning a coveted spot in Platinum. Steam’s data spans from January 1, 2023, to December 15, 2023, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the gaming landscape.
Top Sellers by Gross Revenue: Platinum Reigns Supreme
Leading the charge in the Top Sellers category by gross revenue are an elite dozen games making it to the Platinum tier. The lineup features heavyweights such as Apex Legends, Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, Hogwarts Legacy, Lost Ark, Cyberpunk 2077, Dota 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Destiny 2, Counter-Strike 2, Sons of the Forest, and Call of Duty HQ (MW III, MW II, and Warzone).
New Releases in 2023: Platinum Unveils Fresh Hits
The Platinum tier for New Releases in 2023 by gross revenue introduces stellar newcomers, including Street Fighter 6, Starfield, Cities: Skylines II, Remnant II, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, Payday 3, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, FC 24, Hogwarts Legacy, Sons of the Forest, and Baldur’s Gate 3.
Most Played: Measured by the Masses
The Most Played category, gauged by peak concurrent players, crowns titles that resonated with the gaming community. The Platinum Tier, marked by over 300,000 peak players, comprises Goose Goose Duck, Sons of the Forest, Hogwarts Legacy, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Counter-Strike 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Destiny 2, Apex Legends, Dota 2, Starfield, and Lost Ark.
Early Access Graduates: Rising Stars in Revenue
The top Early Access graduates, ranked by gross revenue, include Sun Haven, Ready or Not, Baldur’s Gate 3, Wartales, Marvel Snap, Everspace 2, My Time at Sandrock, Farlight 84, Against the Storm, Dave the Diver, Demonologist, and Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Steam Deck Games and Controller Play: A New Dimension
Exploring the top Steam Deck games by daily active players reveals standout titles like Elden Ring, Dave the Diver, Hogwarts Legacy, The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, Baldur’s Gate 3, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Grand Theft Auto V, Half-Life, Starfield, Vampire Survivors, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, and Cyberpunk 2077.
Daily active controller players took center stage with the most-played games, featuring Call of Duty HQ, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, Rocket League, FIFA 23, Hogwarts Legacy, Elden Ring, FC 24, Street Fighter 6, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Starfield, NBA 2K23, and Apex Legends.
VR-Exclusive Experiences: A Virtual Wonderland
The top VR-exclusive experiences, determined by gross revenue, showcase the immersive wonders of Boneworks, Blade & Sorcery, Bonelab, Beat Saber, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2, Gorilla Tag, Half-Life: Alyx, VTOL VR, Pavlov, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, Into the Radius, and Ghosts of Tabor.
Steam’s “Best of 2023” offers a panoramic view of the gaming landscape, highlighting the games that resonated most with players and defining the year in PC gaming.