Have we told you what we think are the best PC games of 2020 (well, as many as we can fit), though, and the tough, cold business? For people who want metrics and money, Valve has revealed the best-selling games on Steam in 2020. They’re a bit vague.
Avoid giving Valve numbers or even a definitive ranking for anything. They classify games into “bands,” largely don’t explain the metrics that define them, and randomly mix the order in which they are presented. So you can see broadly which ones are most successful, but not which ones are the most successful or how they compare to others on your side. And missing in late December (and therefore Steam Winter Sale), obvs.
For your convenience, I have rearranged all Valve lists in alphabetical order. I also only included the best bands. Full game lists (many, many more games) are available on Steam right now (switch between categories with tabs), along with a few additional words from Valve.
Best selling revenue for 2020
This covers the cost of the game, plus DLC and in-game purchases. The list is mostly what you might expect, though it’s impressive that Cyberpunk 2077 was introduced despite its December release. And it’s fantastic that Among Us got the income list even though it only cost £ 4. Lots of people distrustful of his friends this year.
Between us
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Cyberpunk 2077
Destiny 2
Doom Eternal
Dota 2
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
big car thief V
Monster Hunter: World
Playerunknown battlefields
Red Dead Redemption 2
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
News
Valve says this list goes by revenue in the two weeks following publication. Again, there are a lot of things you might expect, though I’m surprised that several former Epic Games Store exclusives had such big Steam debuts despite being “out” for months. And several of these are covered by Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, but obviously many people preferred to buy them directly.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Border lands 3
Command & Conquer remastered collection
Cyberpunk 2077
Crusader Kings III
Stranded death
Doom Eternal
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
FIFA 21
2021 football director
Connected to ground
Half-Life: Alyx
Horizon Zero Dawn
Mafia: final edition
The Marvel Avengers
Microsoft flight simulator
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
Person 4 Golden
Resident Evil 3
Sea of thieves
Star Wars: Squadrons
He has had has succeeded
The outer worlds
Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem
The best RV games
Another category defined by in-game revenue, DLC, and in-game purchases. These are mostly familiar games I’d expect to see on the list, but I hadn’t heard of VR Kanojo, so I looked for it and, oh Jesus, it’s about staying with a virtual school.
“Better yet, virtual reality controllers simulate your hands on the game, allowing you to interact with it more directly,” the developers say. “Imagine all the possibilities!” Never be curious, Alice.
Arizona Sunshine
Beat Saber
Blade & Sorcery
Bone works
Half-Life: Alyx
Hot dogs, horseshoes and hand grenades
Pavlov VR
Gun whip
Superhot VR
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
VR Kanojo
Best sellers graduating early access in 2020
Defined by 2020 revenue for the game, DLC and in-game purchases. Some good and expected releases this year.
Conqueror’s Leaf
Deep Rock Galactic
Golf with your friends
DJMax Respect V
tori
Hades
Witch
Risk of rain 2
Skater XL
Template
Torch III
Wolcen: Lords Of Mayhem
Most played
This is not based on sales. The most played category corresponds to the highest concurrent players in 2020, with the top level being the games that broke 200,000. These are largely the great multiplayer games that were expected, in addition to the obvious Cyberpunk, and the surprise appearance of Life Is Strange 2. Nice, LIS!
Between us
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Cyberpunk 2077
Destiny 2
Dota 2
big car thief V
Life is weird 2
Monster Hunter: World
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
Playerunknown battlefields
Terrarium
The best controller games based on the highest players using a controller
Nor has anything to do with sales. Even as a Destiny player the raid group includes someone on the controller, I’m surprised to see that here. This is probably because the MMOFPS has enough players to force it to the top level, but damn it.
Cyberpunk 2077
Dark Souls III
Destiny 2
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
FIFA 21
big car thief V
Hades
Monster Hunter: World
NBA 2K20
Person 4 Golden
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
