With over 120 million monthly active users, Steam is undoubtedly one of the largest digital distribution platforms for PC games. The service boasts an extensive catalog of over 50,000 games that includes both paid and free-to-play titles.
Steam regularly updates statistics on the most played games on the platform. These metrics provide great insight into the hottest and most popular titles on Steam.
In this blog post, we will explore the top 10 most popular Steam games based on current player count and all-time peak concurrent players.
How Steam Tracks Most Popular Games
Steam makes game statistics publicly available through Steam Charts. This allows anyone to view top games by current player count, peak concurrent players, total owners, total playtime, and more.
The current player count tracks how many users are actively playing a game at any given moment. Peak concurrent players show the highest number of simultaneous players a game has ever reached.
These two metrics help identify the most popular and most played games on Steam. Games with high current players show strong consistent demand. High peak concurrents demonstrate a game‘s overall popularity rather than just short-term trends.
Now let‘s jump into the top 10 most played Steam games according to these metrics.
1. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Developed by: Valve, Hidden Path Entertainment
- Released: August 21, 2012
- Genre: First-person shooter
The most popular Steam game is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). This tactical first-person shooter has dominated Steam for years.
CS:GO currently attracts over 500,000 concurrent players per day. Its all-time peak sits at over 850,000 simultaneous players.
The Counter-Strike franchise dates back to 1999. Global Offensive is the fourth game in the series and the most successful by far.
Valve has nurtured CS:GO into one of the world‘s leading esports titles. Nearly every weekend, hundreds of thousands watch professional CS:GO tournaments. The game also has a thriving community with endless user-made maps and modes.
Given its astronomical popularity, it‘s no surprise CS:GO is the most played game on Steam. The tactical shooter has truly stood the test of time.
2. Dota 2
- Developed by: Valve
- Released: July 9, 2013
- Genre: Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA)
Dota 2 is yet another Valve title that continually charts as one of Steam‘s most popular games. It boasts over 500,000 daily players and peaked at over 640,000.
This free-to-play MOBA game has one of the highest skill ceilings in all of gaming. Matches last around 30-45 minutes where teams of 5 heroes battle to destroy the enemy‘s base.
Dota 2 is based on a Warcraft 3 mod called Defense of the Ancients. Valve hired the mod‘s developer and launched a standalone sequel.
Much like CS:GO, Dota 2 has a massive esports scene. Its annual tournament The International holds the record for the largest prize pool in esports history, topping over $47 million.
Given the game‘s complexity, steep learning curve, and hardcore player base, Dota 2 is here to stay as a Steam mainstay.
3. Lost Ark
- Developed by: Smilegate RPG
- Released: February 11, 2022
- Genre: MMORPG
Lost Ark is a relatively new addition to Steam‘s most played games, but it has already amassed a huge following. The free-to-play action RPG averages around 300,000 concurrent players each day.
This massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) first released in South Korea back in 2019. The North American and European version arrived on Steam in early 2022.
Lost Ark sports beautiful graphics, satisfying combat, deep character customization and a sprawling world to explore. The game offers both solo and multiplayer dungeon content for casual and hardcore players alike.
While Lost Ark has proven controversial for its microtransactions and loot boxes, the actual core gameplay remains excellent. Given the rock-solid foundations, Lost Ark will likely remain popular so long as the developers continue supporting it with new content.
4. PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS
- Developed by: PUBG Corporation, Krafton
- Released: December 20, 2017
- Genre: Battle royale
PLAYERUNKNOWN‘S BATTLEGROUNDS (PUBG) kicked off the battle royale craze back in 2017. Though Fortnite may have surpassed it in mainstream popularity, PUBG still holds an audience of around 250,000 players daily.
PUBG pioneered the concept of dropping 100 players onto an island to scavenge weapons and gear. The play area shrinks over time, forcing tense encounters between remaining players. The last team standing wins.
While PUBG has been criticized for technical issues over the years, it remains one of Steam‘s staples due to its methodical, high-risk gameplay. An unwavering loyal player base continues to enjoy PUBG for its tactical combat and gunplay.
5. Apex Legends
- Developed by: Respawn Entertainment
- Released: February 4, 2019
- Genre: Battle royale
Although relatively new, Apex Legends has quickly cemented itself as one of the premiere battle royale games. It averages around 200,000 Steam players with peaks exceeding 300,000.
Published by EA and developed by Titanfall creators Respawn Entertainment, Apex Legends differentiates itself through a diverse cast of "Legends" with unique abilities. This gives players tactical options compared to the classless systems of PUBG and Fortnite.
Apex also innovates with a smart communication system, the ability to respawn dead teammates, and a focus on team-oriented gameplay. Regular updates such as new maps, heroes, and weapons continue to draw players in.
Given the Respawn team‘s strong reputation and commitment to community feedback, Apex Legends could remain a battle royale leader for years to come.
6. ARK: Survival Evolved
- Developed by: Studio Wildcard
- Released: August 29, 2017
- Genre: Survival, sandbox
With around 140,000 daily players, ARK: Survival Evolved shows the enduring popularity of hardcore survival games. Instead of battling other players, the main enemies here are dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.
Players start naked and alone on the mysterious ARK island. They must track down resources, craft tools and shelters, tame dinosaurs, and simply survive against hunger, thirst, and animal attacks.
Playing together in tribes allows creating huge bases and taking down ARK‘s menagerie of fantasy beasts. The harsh difficulty and deadly dinosaurs keep bringing players back despite ARK‘s technical shortcomings.
7. Team Fortress 2
- Developed by: Valve
- Released: October 10, 2007
- Genre: Hero shooter
Valve‘s Team Fortress 2 proves that a truly great game stands the test of time. Despite launching way back in 2007, TF2 has hung around as a perennial Steam favorite with over 130,000 peak daily players.
Team Fortress 2 features fast-paced, team-based combat centered around 9 distinct character classes. Their wildly different weapons, abilities, and personalities lend TF2 its whimsical charm and high skill ceiling.
Part of TF2‘s lasting appeal comes from its sheer variety of well-designed maps and game modes. There‘s always something new and exciting to experience even for veterans. Valve has impressively supported the game with consistent updates for over a decade.
Given the dedicated community and Valve‘s ongoing support, expect Team Fortress 2 to remain on this list for years to come.
8. Grand Theft Auto V
- Developed by: Rockstar North
- Released: April 14, 2015
- Genre: Action-adventure
Although originally released in 2013 for consoles, Grand Theft Auto V has thrived ever since its 2015 Steam launch. Today it regularly pulls over 100,000 concurrent players.
GTA V‘s sprawling open world, chaotic gameplay, and endless replay value contribute to its enduring popularity. Players can pour hundreds of hours into GTA Online – essentially a game unto itself with tons of multiplayer activities.
A steady stream of updates from Rockstar adds new missions, vehicles, weapons, and more. The active modding community has also produced game-changing mods like roleplay servers.
No other open world action game can compete with the sheer breadth of content and mayhem provided by GTA V. It will likely dominate well into the 2020s.
9. Wallpaper Engine
- Developed by: Kristjan Skutta
- Released: November 5, 2016
- Genre: Wallpaper application
Now for something completely different – Wallpaper Engine is one of Steam‘s most popular applications with over 85,000 concurrent users.
This clever tool allows you to set dynamic, customizable wallpapers on your desktop. Choose from thousands of existing animated, video, and interactive wallpapers. You can even create your own with Wallpaper Engine‘s built-in editor.
The application integrates beautifully into Steam‘s Big Picture mode. Wallpapers react to music and other applications in real-time.
For animation lovers and those seeking to liven up their desktop, Wallpaper Engine is an essential Steam download. The massive library of wallpapers and seamless performance explain its consistent popularity.
10. Rust
- Developed by: Facepunch Studios
- Released: February 8, 2018
- Genre: Survival, multiplayer
Survival games clearly have a strong following on Steam. Rust recently joined the top 10 with around 80,000 daily players.
This multiplayer-only survival game drops players on an unforgiving island with nothing but rocks and torches. You must scavenge, craft, build bases, and whatever it takes to survive against hunger, deadly wildlife, and enemy players.
The constant threat of other players adds genuine tension and risk to the survival experience. Forming clans and waging war brings unique player-driven stories absent in PvE-focused games.
Rust has steadily improved since its Steam Early Access launch in 2013. Extensive updates overhauled graphics, gameplay, and added major features like electricity and vehicles. While still rough around the edges, Rust provides some of the most thrilling survival moments around.
Conclusion
This breakdown covers the top 10 most popular games on Steam as of February 2023. The list contains a diverse mix of competitive FPS, MOBAs, open world, survival, and other genres that appeal to millions of PC gamers.
Valve titles like Counter-Strike and Dota 2 remain unmatched in terms of consistent popularity and longevity. However, new contenders like Apex Legends and Lost Ark are catching up fast.
The rankings offer great insight into current Steam gaming trends and player interests. I‘ll be excited to see which new games eventually join the top 10 most played.
No matter your taste in games, Steam has something worth trying. Just download the client for free and explore their vast catalog of 50,000+ Windows games.
What are your favorite games on Steam? Let me know in the comments!
