Valve avoid giving numbers or even a definitive ranking for anything. They sort games into ‘bands’, largely not explaining the metrics defining these, and randomly shuffle the order in which they’re presented. So you can broadly see which are successful, but not which is the most successful nor how any compare to others within their band. And they are missing the end of December (and therefore Steam Winter Sale), obvs. For your convenience, I’ve re-sorted all Valve’s lists into alphabetical order. I’ve also only included the top bands. The full lists of games (many, many more games) are up on Steam right now (switch between categories with the tabs), along with a few extra words from Valve.
Top Sellers by 2020 Revenue
This covers the cost of the game itself plus DLC and in-game purchases. The list’s mostly what you’d expect, though it is impressive that Cyberpunk 2077 crept in despite launching in December. And it’s neat that Among Us made the revenue list despite only costing £4. Whole lot of folks suspicious of their pals this year. Among Us Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Cyberpunk 2077 Destiny 2 Doom Eternal Dota 2 Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Grand Theft Auto V Monster Hunter: World Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds Red Dead Redemption 2 Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
New Releases
Valve say this list goes by revenue in the two weeks following release. Again, lots of things you’d expect, though I am surprised that several former Epic Games Store exclusives had such big Steam debuts despite being ‘out’ for months. And several of these are covered by Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, yet evidently many folks preferred to outright buy them. Baldur’s Gate 3 Borderlands 3 Command & Conquer Remastered Collection Cyberpunk 2077 Crusader Kings III Death Stranding Doom Eternal Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Fifa 21 Football Manager 2021 Grounded Half-Life: Alyx Horizon Zero Dawn Mafia: Definitive Edition Marvel’s Avengers Microsoft Flight Simulator Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Persona 4 Golden Resident Evil 3 Sea Of Thieves Star Wars: Squadrons Temtem The Outer Worlds Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem
Top VR games
Another category defined by revenue from the game, DLC, and in-game purchases. These are mostly familiar games I’d expect to see on the list, but I hadn’t heard of VR Kanojo so I looked it up and oh jesus it’s about hanging out with a virtual schoolgirl. “Better yet, VR controllers simulate your hands in-game, letting you interact with her more directly,” the devs say. “Just imagine all the possibilities!” Never be curious, Alice. Arizona Sunshine Beat Saber Blade & Sorcery Boneworks Half-Life: Alyx Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Pavlov VR Pistol Whip Superhot VR The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners VR Kanojo
Top Sellers graduating from early access in 2020
Defined by revenue in 2020 from the game, DLC, and in-game purchases. Some good and long-awaited launches this year. Conqueror’s Blade Deep Rock Galactic Golf With Your Friends DJMax Respect V Factorio Hades Noita Risk Of Rain 2 Skater XL Squad Torchlight III Wolcen: Lords Of Mayhem
Most Played
Not based on sales, this. The Most Played category goes by peak concurrent players in 2020, with the top tier being games which broke 200,000. It’s largely the big multiplayer games you’d expect, plus Cyberpunk obvs, then the surprise appearance of Life Is Strange 2. Nice one, LIS! Among Us Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Cyberpunk 2077 Destiny 2 Dota 2 Grand Theft Auto V Life Is Strange 2 Monster Hunter: World Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds Terraria
Top Controller Games Based on Highest Daily Players Using a Controller
Also nothing to do with sales. Even as a Destiny player whose raid group includes someone on controller, I am surprised to see it here. That’s probably because the MMOFPS has enough players to brute-force it into the top tier but damn. Cyberpunk 2077 Dark Souls III Destiny 2 Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Fifa 21 Grand Theft Auto V Hades Monster Hunter: World NBA 2K20 Persona 4 Golden The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
