Valve has released its annual list showcasing the ‘Best of 2023’ on Steam, highlighting the top-selling PC titles. The games featured are not ranked numerically but are categorized into tiers — Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze — based on sales data collected from January 1 to December 15, 2023. The top category includes an array of free-to-play multiplayer titles alongside major game releases. Among these, Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, Cyberpunk 2077, and Hogwarts Legacy have emerged as the standout best-sellers. Despite mixed reviews from both players and critics, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 secured a notable position due to a loyal fanbase keen on its multiplayer offerings.
Popular titles such as Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Apex Legends, Dota 2, and Destiny 2 have all achieved Platinum status. Notably, Destiny 2 is set to expand further with the upcoming release of ‘The Final Shape’ in June. The Gold tier showcases impressive titles including the Resident Evil 4 remake, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Elden Ring, which has reportedly sold around 20 million copies across all platforms. The success of Elden Ring has also helped lift Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon into the top 24 best-selling games on the platform. FIFA 23, despite being from the previous year, continues to resonate with players, especially with the recent launch of its successor, EA Sports FC 24, earlier this year.
Beyond the overall Top-Sellers category, Steam has additional sections dedicated to New Releases ranked by gross revenue, Most Played titles, and Early Access games. Some poorly received multiplatform games have gained attention lately, with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Payday 3 leading the way, although the latter faced criticism for its perceived lack of content. Multiplayer games consistently attracted the highest player counts, crossing the threshold of 300,000 concurrent players. Noteworthy single-player games, including Goose Goose Duck and Hogwarts Legacy, also found success, with Baldur’s Gate 3 peaking at over 800,000 concurrent players on Steam. Larian Studios had only anticipated around 100,000 players upon release, given that the game had been in early access for nearly three years. At present, Baldur’s Gate 3 ranks fourth among the most-played games on the platform with over 176,000 concurrent users.
The year 2023 proved beneficial for game developers testing their products in early access and receiving valuable player feedback. Among these, the ocean exploration and fishing game from Mintrocket, Dave the Diver, gained immense popularity, even becoming one of the most played titles on the Steam Deck. Although anticipated less graphically intensive games like Vampire Survivor and Half-Life found their way onto the device, Starfield managed to rank highly despite performance issues in busy areas such as New Atlantis and the Wild West-themed Akila. In the realm of virtual reality gaming, Beat Saber and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR stood out, alongside Half-Life: Alyx, which places players into intense battles against the alien Combine forces.
Currently, Steam is hosting its annual Winter Sale, offering significant discounts on a variety of games, both new and returning. This event will continue until January 5 at 10:30 PM IST.
