The number of games released on Steam has reached new heights in 2024, with 18,949 titles launched on the platform, marking a 32% increase over the previous year (2023), which saw 14,310 new games. This surge reflects the growing accessibility and popularity of Steam as a platform, leading to an average of approximately 51 games released every day.
Breakdown of Steam’s 2024 Game Releases:
- 18,949 games released in 2024
- 32% increase over 2023 (14,310 games)
- An average of 51 games per day, including free games, student projects, experiments, and joke games that might never get significant attention.
Popular Games on Steam:
Despite the high number of releases, not all games achieve significant traction. Of the games released in 2024, only 3,973 (around 21%) were considered “popular” by SteamDB’s metrics, including games that earned cards, emojis, or other customization items and had general achievements that players could unlock. These popular games reflect the titles that gained the most attention and engagement from the Steam community.
Steam Game Release Trends (2019-2024):
- 2024: 18,949 games (32% increase)
- 2023: 14,310 games (15% increase)
- 2022: 12,381 games (9% increase)
- 2021: 11,307 games (16% increase)
- 2020: 9,686 games (19% increase)
The growth seen in 2020 was particularly strong due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to an increased focus on gaming during lockdowns and remote work. As the pandemic eased, growth slowed in 2022, but the trend picked up again in the last two years.
Steam’s Main Highlights in 2024:
Despite the vast number of releases, certain titles stood out in 2024 in terms of sales and player reviews:
- Balatro
- Satisfactory
- Black Myth: Wukong
- TCG Card Shop Simulator
With these impressive figures and the trend of increasing releases, it’s clear that Steam remains a central hub for both indie developers and larger studios, with the platform set to experience even more growth in 2025.
New ways to play on Steam
In addition to the impressive number of 18,949 games released on Steam in 2024, the platform has also set a new record for simultaneous users. In December 2024, Steam reached an all-time high of 39 million active players online at once.
This surge in user activity can be attributed to both long-standing titles and newer releases that continue to drive engagement:
Popular Games Contributing to Steam’s Record-Breaking User Count:
- Classic Titles:
- DOTA 2
- GTA V
- PUBG: Battlegrounds
- Newer Games:
- Counter-Strike 2
- Marvel Rivals
- Path of Exile 2
These games, both old and new, continue to attract a massive player base, reflecting the growing popularity of Steam as a gaming platform and its capacity to support a wide variety of player interests.
Key Takeaways:
- 39 million simultaneous users in December 2024, setting a new record.
- The platform continues to thrive, with a combination of classic favorites and new releases keeping players engaged.
Steam’s continued growth in game releases and active users demonstrates its dominant position in the gaming ecosystem and its ability to cater to diverse audiences.
