Steam has unveiled its annual “Best of 2024” list, highlighting the platform’s top-selling, most-played, and most popular games. Covering data from January 1 to December 15, the rankings categorize games into Platinum (1st-12th), Gold (13th-24th), Silver (25th-50th), and Bronze (51st-100th) tiers, with no specific order within each group.

In the Top Sellers category, which measures revenue, titles like Dota 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Palworld, Elden Ring, Helldivers 2, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, and Black Myth: Wukong claimed Platinum. Notably, Helldivers 2, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, and Black Myth: Wukong are new releases that achieved Platinum status, underscoring their global success. Gold-tier titles included The First Descendant, Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero, and Included.

The Top Releases category, based on revenue from the first two weeks post-launch, saw Stalker 2, Helldivers 2, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Black Myth: Wukong, and Palworld secure Platinum spots. Gold-tier games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Hades 2, The First Descendant, and Marvel Rivals also stood out. Remarkably, Marvel Rivals achieved Gold with only nine days of sales after its December 6 release, showcasing its strong debut.

In the Most Played category, which tracks peak concurrent players, Platinum-tier games had peak player counts exceeding 450,000. Leading the list were Black Myth: Wukong with 2.4 million, Palworld with 2.1 million, Marvel Rivals with 480,000, and Helldivers 2 with 450,000. Gold-tier games, with peak players between 200,000 and 450,000, included The First Descendant (260,000), Once Human (230,000), and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (220,000).

For Steam Deck, the most-played Platinum-tier games were Hades, Balatro, Dave the Diver, Stardew Valley, and Palworld. In the Controller category, popular titles included Apex Legends, Elden Ring, Palworld, Black Myth: Wukong, and Monster Hunter: World. The Best VR Games category saw perennial favorites like Half-Life: Alyx, Skyrim VR, and Beat Saber secure Platinum spots, reflecting their enduring popularity.

Among the year’s standouts was Nexon’s new looter-shooter The First Descendant, which achieved Gold status in three major categories: Top Sellers, Top Releases, and Most Played. The game’s consistent performance highlights its global appeal and strong reception.

Steam’s 2024 rankings not only celebrate blockbuster titles but also spotlight the rising stars of the gaming world, offering a snapshot of the industry’s vibrant and evolving landscape.

Sayart / Jack Lee, wangjb77@gmail.com