Steam’s Best-Selling Games of 2024: A Year of Live-Service and Premium Hits
Introduction
Steam, the world’s leading digital distribution platform for PC gaming, has revealed its list of best-selling games for 2024. This list is categorized based on the total revenue generated by each game. While Steam does not disclose the exact revenue figures, it has grouped games into four distinct tiers: Platinum (1st–12th), Gold (13th–24th), Silver (25th–50th), and Bronze (51st–100th). These rankings provide valuable insights into the most popular and financially successful titles on the platform.
In addition to the revenue-based rankings, Steam also includes sub-categories such as Top Sellers, New Releases, Most Played, Steam Deck, Controller, and VR games, each offering a unique perspective on the year’s top-performing titles. These insights further showcase how diverse and dynamic the gaming landscape has become in 2024.
Top-Selling Games of 2024
Platinum Tier: Live-Service Games Dominate
The Platinum category is where the big players reside, with games that consistently generate massive revenue. In 2024, live-service games have continued their dominance in the Platinum tier. These titles often feature regular updates, seasonal content, and strong communities that help them maintain their success year after year. Notable titles in the Platinum tier for 2024 include:
- Apex Legends
- Counter-Strike 2
- PUBG Battlegrounds
- Destiny 2
These live-service giants have been at the forefront for several years, showcasing the staying power of games that continually evolve and expand their offerings. They have built communities that thrive on regular updates, in-game events, and seasonal content. Players keep coming back to these titles due to their dynamic nature and the sense of engagement they provide.
However, live-service games were not the only ones to shine in 2024. Premium titles also held their ground, with critically acclaimed games earning their spots among the top earners. These premium games usually feature single-player or multi-player campaigns, offering players a complete experience without the need for constant updates. The top premium games of 2024 include:
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Elden Ring
Black Myth: Wukong emerged as a standout title in 2024, not just for its financial success but also for its award-winning design and captivating gameplay. The game’s development has been closely watched since its announcement, and it delivered on its promises, earning multiple awards. Baldur’s Gate 3, a role-playing game developed by Larian Studios, has continued its success from the previous year, bolstered by consistent updates and content additions. Similarly, Elden Ring, one of the most popular open-world action role-playing games, maintained its spot in the top tier thanks to the continued interest in its expansive world and challenging gameplay.
New Releases: Exciting Debuts of 2024
2024 saw a range of exciting new releases that quickly rose to the top of Steam’s revenue rankings. The New Releases category on Steam evaluates the revenue generated by a game in its first two weeks post-launch. This short period is often a crucial time for games to establish their presence, and several new titles in 2024 excelled in this area.
Some of the biggest new releases of 2024 include:
- Path of Exile II
- Helldivers 2
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Black Myth: Wukong (again)
These games not only entered the market with huge success but also demonstrated their potential to be long-term hits. Path of Exile II is a sequel to the beloved action RPG Path of Exile, offering a deeper narrative and new gameplay mechanics. Helldivers 2, a co-op shooter, took players on intense missions against alien forces, while Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 continued the tradition of fast-paced military shooters that draw in millions of players.
Black Myth: Wukong, a game that had already been generating buzz before its release, made a huge impact in 2024, climbing to the Platinum tier due to its strong initial sales and positive reception from both critics and players.
Peak Concurrent Players: Live-Service Games Lead the Charge
The peak concurrent players metric is another important factor when evaluating a game’s success on Steam. In 2024, live-service games maintained their dominance in this category, with several games reaching record-breaking player numbers.
- Apex Legends
- Counter-Strike 2
- Marvel Rivals
- PUBG Battlegrounds
Live-service games, by their nature, tend to attract large numbers of concurrent players, as they are designed to keep players engaged over long periods. These games are often updated with new content, battle passes, and seasonal events, ensuring that there is always something for players to look forward to. In 2024, games like Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2, and Marvel Rivals saw peak player counts of over 450,000 players, securing their spots as some of the most popular games on the platform.
Even premium titles like Helldivers 2, Black Myth: Wukong, and Elden Ring also performed strongly in this category. Despite not being live-service games, their large, dedicated player bases made them consistent top-performers in terms of concurrent players.
A Year of Acclaimed Releases
Despite being thought of as a quieter year for gaming, 2024 saw the release of several highly acclaimed titles. From the award-winning Black Myth: Wukong to the ever-popular Baldur’s Gate 3, 2024 proved that both live-service and premium games could coexist and thrive in the evolving gaming landscape. Many of these games went on to win multiple industry awards, further solidifying their place in the hearts of gamers.
The fact that live-service games and premium titles can both achieve success in the same year speaks to the diverse tastes of the gaming community and the ever-changing nature of the industry. These games captivated millions of players worldwide, offering a blend of dynamic, ongoing content and deep, rich narratives.
FAQs
1. What are the best-selling games on Steam in 2024?
The best-selling games on Steam in 2024 include Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2, PUBG Battlegrounds, Destiny 2, Black Myth: Wukong, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Elden Ring. These titles have earned top spots in the Platinum category based on total revenue.
2. How does Steam categorize its best-selling games?
Steam categorizes its best-selling games based on total revenue into four tiers: Platinum (1st–12th), Gold (13th–24th), Silver (25th–50th), and Bronze (51st–100th).
3. What are the most successful new releases of 2024?
Some of the most successful new releases of 2024 include Path of Exile II, Helldivers 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Black Myth: Wukong. These games quickly climbed the charts due to their strong initial sales and positive reception.
4. Which types of games dominated Steam in 2024?
In 2024, live-service games dominated the top revenue spots, with titles like Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2, and PUBG Battlegrounds leading the way. However, premium titles like Black Myth: Wukong, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Elden Ring also performed strongly.
5. What is the importance of peak concurrent players?
Peak concurrent players represent the highest number of players online at the same time for a given game. Games with high peak concurrent players, like Apex Legends and Counter-Strike 2, show that they have large and active player bases, indicating strong community engagement.
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