As 2025 draws to a close, Valve has unveiled its annual Best of Steam rankings. While the charts feature several expected heavy hitters, the lists for top sellers, highest earners, and most-played titles also contain several startling inclusions, underscoring what a transformative and peculiar year it has been for the video game industry.
Even the predictable entries become more impressive when placed in context. For instance, the extraction shooter Arc Raiders secured a spot in the “Platinum” tier for both top new releases and total revenue. This achievement is particularly remarkable when you consider that the game has only been available for purchase for approximately two months.
Independent titles also staged a formidable showing in the highest revenue category, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with industry giants like Battlefield 6 and Borderlands 4. The performance of Hollow Knight: Silksong and Schedule 1 is especially noteworthy; despite their accessible price points of $19.99 and $9.99, they generated revenue comparable to massive AAA productions. While Valve does not disclose specific sales figures, these indies clearly moved a massive volume of units to climb into the Platinum bracket. It was a banner year for games priced below the standard $69.99 threshold, further evidenced by the Platinum-tier success of the $39.99 Elden Ring Nightreign.
The “Friendslop” sensation Peak also enjoyed a lucrative run at its $7.99 price point, though it fell just short of the highest rank. Nevertheless, the development teams at Aggro Crab and Landfall Games are likely elated with their high standing, particularly given their status as relatively small independent studios.
Perhaps the most significant omission from the new release Platinum ranks is Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Traditionally, this military shooter is a permanent fixture on every success metric by default. However, Activision’s flagship franchise faltered enough this year to prompt a major strategic shift: the publisher announced it would abandon its annual release cycle, instead alternating between Modern Warfare and Black Ops to avoid diminishing returns. This marks a significant departure from the era when “boycotting” the franchise was merely an internet meme; this year, Battlefield 6 officially seized the FPS crown.
Other titles performed exceptionally well with less fanfare, such as The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered—a testament to fans’ hunger for the series while The Elder Scrolls 6 remains years away. It is also encouraging to see Dune: Awakening and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 among the top earners. The success of Dune suggests the survival genre still possesses significant untapped potential, while the strong performance of Kingdom Come offers a sense of vindication for Warhorse Studios.
The list of most popular games by player count offers some intriguing data points. While staples like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Stardew Valley were inevitable inclusions, the enduring popularity of Left 4 Dead 2 remains astonishing. This specific chart also serves as a dominant showcase for Valve’s own ecosystem, featuring Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 prominently.
Finally, Cyberpunk 2077 continues to demonstrate incredible resilience. Five years after its infamously troubled launch, CD Projekt Red’s sci-fi RPG remains a fixture in the Gold tiers for both sales and player engagement. It is increasingly clear that the title is poised for the same long-term legacy as The Witcher 3.
You can examine the full breakdown of the year’s winners here, though the page has been experiencing intermittent stability issues due to high traffic.
Source: Polygon
