2024 will be remembered for a lot of great games:Black Myth: Wukong,Helldivers 2,Marvel Rivals, andPath of Exile 2all come to mind.
As great as these new games are, there are plenty of beloved titles from recent memory that are still popular today. These include games likeBaldur’s Gate 3,Counter-Strike 2,Elden Ring, and others that are regular parts of our gaming portfolio.
While we can make some good guesses for the most popular games of 2024, we can use data from SteamDB to run down the top ten games of the year based on concurrent player counts. Some of the titles we mentioned will appear on this list, and a handful of surprises.
We almost had a beta test make the cut, too, with the Monster Hunter Wilds Beta just missing the mark at a player peak of roughly 450,000. So, who did make the cut? Let’s find out.
10Helldivers 2
2024 peak players: 458,709
Helldivers 2
One of the year’s best co-op shooters is also one of 2024’s most popular games.
Thanks to a content update,Helldivers 2is experiencing aresurgence of active players, proving that concerns about its long-term viability need to be dismissed.
Helldivers 2is still a great four-player experience, whether you want something to shoot with friends or enjoy its player-driven narrative. It’s never too late to jump in and do what you can to save democracy!
9Marvel Rivals
2024 peak players: 480,990
Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivalsis the team-based shooter we deserve.
While some may dismiss the game as a simpleOverwatchclone, it combines accessibility, surprising hero balance, and deep strategy the more you play.
Marvel Rivals Review
It really makes you feel like Spider-Man.
Every hero role (Tank, Healer, DPS) is enjoyable to play, and theTeam-Up abilitiesadd a new level of strategy when choosing heroes.
Plus, living out your superhero fantasies is always a good time. Who doesn’t want to play as Venom while taking on Magneto?
8Path of Exile 2
2024 peak players: 578,569
Path of Exile II
Path of Exile 2is an incredibly deep, addicting Action-RPG experience that caters to veterans and newcomers alike.
Whether you’ve been upset with the state ofDiablo 4, a long-timePath of Exilefan, or someone just looking to see what the hype is about, you’ll find something to enjoy.
Even in its Early Access state,Path of Exile 2is a massive improvement over its predecessor, with nowhere to go but up. It’s a benchmark for the ARPG genre and will continue improving over time.
7Elden Ring
2024 peak players: 781,261
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
It turns out that when an incredibly popular game releases critically acclaimed DLC, it’s going to see a spike in player count.
That’s precisely what happened when theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC forElden Ringwas released.
While its inclusion on several Game of the Year lists is controversial, theElden RingDLC is undoubtedly one of the year’s best releases.
It’s a vast improvement on an already excellent game, adding nearly 50 hours of content to an already lengthy game.
6PUBG: Battlegrounds
2024 peak players: 808,258
PUBG: Battlegrounds
Winner winner, chicken dinner.
One of the original Battle Royale games is still going strong today.PUBG: Battlegroundholds up surprisingly well today.
PUBG’s renewed focus on its competitive scene and continued updates throughout the year are helping it remain relevant to players today.
While it will never reach the same heights during its peak, PUBG has carved out a respectable place in today’s gaming landscape that shows no sign of slowing down.
2024 peak players: 917,272
Sometimes, you can’t explain a game’s popularity. That’s the case withBanana, a free-to-play clicker game where you, well, click a banana. You’ll then have a chance to grow your collection of bananas.
Look, I don’t get it, but it clearly has an audience. At the time of writing, it had over 100,000 concurrent players—more thanCall of Duty,Baldur’s Gate, andHelldivers 2.
But hey, it’s been popular this year, and people love the game, so more power to them.
2024 peak players: 951,239
From one free game to another, though,Dota 2offers a little more substance than Banana.
Even after all these years,Dota 2remains immensely popular in 2024.
Yes, itshighly competitive nature makes it inaccessible, but there’s nothing quite like the thrill ofDota 2. Its addictive balance of skill, tactical prowess, and teamwork results in some of the most exciting gameplay moments I’ve ever experienced.
Every now and then, I get the itch to boot back upDota 2, and I’m always glad I did. Until I join a team of feeders, that is.
3Counter-Strike 2
2024 peak players: 1,740,261
Counter-Strike 2
Some say thatDota 2is Valve’s juggernaut, but the reality is that the title belongs toCounter-Strike 2.
The game’s popularity will simply never end. SinceCounter-Strike 2’s launch in 2023, the game’s popularity has never been higher.
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A combination of a thriving competitive scene and the same pick-up-and-play team-based gameplay that is as popular today as it was twenty years ago helps make it one of 2024’s most popular games.
Just likeDota 2, booting up a game ofCounter-Strike 2is always a good decision, whether playing with friends, strangers, or messing around in Gun Game.
2024 peak players: 2,101,867
One of the biggest gaming stories of the year,Palworldis the game that keeps going.
Heavily inspired by thePokemonfranchise,Palworldbrings the concept to modern audiences, borrowing elements from the open-world survival crafting genre.
With every update,Palworldadds more content, depth, andthings to see and do.
It’s come a long way from its shallow state at launch, and provided lawyers don’t stop it, it shows no signs of slowing down.
1Black Myth: Wukong
2024 peak players: 2,415,714
Black Myth: Wukong
One of the year’s best games is also one of the most popular games of 2024.
Few games in theSoulslike genrehave seen the sustained success ofBlack Myth: Wukong.
While its linear progression may deter some, the game’s challenge, gameplay, and boss battles more than compensate for it.
Few games can deliver the spectacle thatBlack Myth: Wukongdoes; it’s no wonder why it’s one of the most popular games this year.
