Steam’s Top-Selling Games Highlight the Unpredictable Journey of 2025

As we wrap up 2025, Valve has unveiled its list of top-performing games on Steam. Fans of gaming will recognize many familiar titles on these charts, but there are also some surprising entries that highlight how unique this year has been for the gaming landscape.

Take, for instance, the extraction shooter Arc Raiders, which has impressively secured a spot in the “platinum” tier for both new releases and highest revenue. While this might not seem shocking at first glance, it’s worth noting that Arc Raiders has only been on the market for a few months!

Indie games have also made a significant impact, standing strong against heavyweights like Battlefield 6 and Borderlands 4. Titles such as Hollow Knight: Silksong and Schedule 1 have generated revenue that rivals AAA games, despite their lower price points of $19.99 and $9.99, respectively. While Valve hasn’t disclosed specific sales figures, it’s clear that these games must have sold a substantial number of copies to reach the platinum tier. This year has been particularly favorable for games priced below the typical $69.99, as shown by the inclusion of the $39.99 Elden Ring Nightreign in the platinum ranks.

For those interested, the indie hit Peak, priced at $7.99, performed well but just missed the top tier. Still, developers Aggro Crab and Landfall Games must be thrilled to see their titles ranked so high, especially considering their smaller studio sizes.

One notable absence from the new release platinum ranks is Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Typically, this military shooter dominates charts simply by being part of the COD franchise. However, this year, Activision’s flagship title stumbled enough that the company announced a shift away from its annual release schedule, opting to alternate between the Modern Warfare and Black Ops series to avoid repetitive sequels. It’s a significant change from the past, where players often swore off the latest Call of Duty only to end up buying it anyway. In a surprising twist, Battlefield 6 has claimed the FPS crown this time around.

Another title that performed well without much hype is The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. With The Elder Scrolls 6 still years away, fans are likely grateful for any new content. It’s also encouraging to see games like Dune: Awakening and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 making waves on the revenue charts. Dune’s unexpected popularity suggests that the survival genre still has plenty of life left in it, and it must be a relief for Warhorse Studios fans who felt the studio was overlooked at The Game Awards.

I was surprised by the list of most popular Steam games. While titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Stardew Valley were expected, it’s astonishing to see so many players still invested in Left 4 Dead 2. This particular list serves as a testament to Valve’s success, especially with the presence of Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2.

Cyberpunk 2077 also stands out here. CD Projekt Red’s sci-fi RPG appears in the gold tiers for top sellers and most played, which is impressive considering it’s been five years since its launch. Despite its rocky start that led to its removal from storefronts, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Cyberpunk 2077 may have a lasting appeal similar to that of The Witcher 3.

You can check out the full list of games, though it seems the page has been having some issues loading since it went live.