Steam provides invaluable insights through its public player count statistics, allowing fans and analysts alike to gauge the popularity of various games. This article explores the top ten highest recorded concurrent players on Steam, showcasing a diverse selection from iconic classics to major AAA titles.
The gaming landscape on Steam is dynamic, with player counts shifting regularly. Yet, some games have reached extraordinary peaks, with one title surpassing a staggering three million concurrent players. Notably, 2024 saw the unprecedented rise of Palworld, a new entry that quickly captivated gamers worldwide.
This year also brought unexpected developments: the clicker game Banana made its mark by joining the top ten, while Black Myth: Wukong debuted impressively, clinching second place on its launch day.
Top 10 Highest Player Counts on Steam
| Rank | Game | Release Date | Peak Players | Date Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PUBG | December 21, 2017 | 3,257,248 | January 13, 2018 |
| 2 | Black Myth: Wukong | August 20, 2024 | 2,358,580 | August 20, 2024 |
| 3 | Palworld | January 19, 2024 | 2,101,867 | January 27, 2024 |
| 4 | CS:GO | August 21, 2012 | 1,818,773 | May 6, 2023 |
| 5 | Lost Ark | February 11, 2022 | 1,325,205 | February 12, 2023 |
| 6 | Dota 2 | July 9, 2013 | 1,295,114 | March 6, 2016 |
| 7 | Cyberpunk 2077 | December 10, 2020 | 1,054,388 | December 10, 2020 |
| 8 | Fire Ring | February 24, 2022 | 953,426 | March 5, 2022 |
| 9 | Banana | April 23, 2024 | 917,272 | June 20, 2024 |
| 10 | New World | September 28, 2021 | 913,634 | October 3, 2021 |
Source: SteamDB
PUBG: The Most Popular Steam Game
To date, PUBG holds the record for the highest number of concurrent players on Steam, peaking at an impressive 3.25 million during its prime in 2018. However, its popularity has waned, resulting in a significant decline in its average daily player counts. Currently, titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (now referred to as CS2) consistently attract a daily player base that outnumbers PUBG.
The astounding success of Palworld has reshuffled the rankings, placing CS:GO in third among peak player counts. This rise is even more notable considering Palworld’s availability across multiple platforms, including Xbox and the Microsoft Store, hinting at even greater player numbers when consolidated.
CS:GO, now CS2, remains a record-setting title over a decade after its release.
Other notable games, such as Dota 2, Apex Legends, and GTA V, also maintain impressive average player counts, frequently surpassing 200,000 concurrent players during peak times.
Record Holder Among Single-Player Games
While the previous discussions focused largely on multiplayer titles, you might wonder which single-player games have made a splash on Steam. As of now, the title of highest player count for a single-player Steam game goes to Black Myth: Wukong, which surpassed the long-held record of Cyberpunk 2077 on August 20, 2024.
Black Myth: Wukong stands out as the sole single-player game in the top five.
Prior to Black Myth: Wukong, Cyberpunk 2077 was the only single-player game to exceed one million concurrent players, marking an impressive achievement. However, with the emergence of Game Science’s latest title, the record has now been dramatically raised above two million. Close behind Cyberpunk are Elden Ring and Banana, the former recognized for its artistic achievement while the latter is a simple yet captivating clicker game.
Please note that these statistics reflect player counts exclusively on the Steam platform, so any players using alternate launchers, including the EA App or Xbox App, or console gamers are not included in these statistics.
Stay tuned as we continuously update this list with fresh data and emerging titles striving to set new player count records.
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