A one-minute animation showcases the evolution of Steam's most popular games over the past fourteen years. DOTA 2 and Counter-Strike have long occupied the top spots, while PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds achieved the most significant rise on the entire chart.
The chart uses average monthly concurrent players rather than single-day or instantaneous peaks. This method smooths out occasional fluctuations, making it more suitable for observing how long a game maintains its player base. In the animation, aside from DOTA 2 and Counter-Strike, most other popular titles only entered the top ranks during certain periods.
In 2018, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' average monthly concurrent players approached 1.4 million, with peak concurrent players exceeding 3.2 million in January of that year. After turning free-to-play in 2022, the game has remained in the upper tier of the rankings.
Since then, Lost Ark, Elden Ring, Palworld, and Black MYTH - Steam Edition: Wukong have all experienced periods of high rankings. Palworld rapidly climbed to first place in early 2024 before quickly declining; Cyberpunk 2077 appeared on the chart for a relatively short period.
Terraria has returned to the top ten multiple times over thirteen years, with its curve fluctuations corresponding to major updates. DOTA 2 has maintained high popularity for a long time but is less frequently discussed in public conversations among some Western players; regional influence, a higher barrier to entry, and strong core player retention are cited as possible reasons for this contrast.