We’ve told you what we think are the best PC games of 2020 (well, as much as we could fit), but what about a cold, hard industry? For people who want metrics and money, Valve has sold the best games on Steam 2020. They’re a little vague about it, mind you.
Valves avoid giving numbers or even definitive ratings for anything. They sort games into ‘bands’, largely without defining the dimensions that define them, and randomly move the order in which they are displayed. So you can generally see who is successful, but not which one is the most successful or how they compare to others in their band. And they miss the end of December (and therefore Steam Winter Sale), obvs.
For your convenience, I have sorted all Valve lists in alphabetical order. I only included the main bands. The full lists of games (many, many more games) are up on Steam right now (move between categories with the tabs), along with a few extra words from Valve.
Key Vendors by 2020 Revenue
This covers the cost of the game itself as well as DLC and in-game purchases. Most of the list is what you would expect, although it is impressive that Cyberpunk 2077 has entered even though it was launched in December. And it’s nice that Among Us made the income list even though it only cost £ 4. A lot of people are suspicious of their friends this year.
Among them
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Cyberpunk 2077
Destiny 2
Eternal Doom
Dota 2
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Grand Theft Auto V.
Monster Hunter: World
Playerunknown Battles
Dead red solution 2
Chorus six Tom Clancy rainbows
New contacts
Valve says this list goes on with revenue in the two weeks following its release. Again, there are a lot of things you would expect, although I am surprised that there were a number of big promises on Steam Games despite being ‘out’ for months. And several of those are covered by Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, but apparently many people would prefer to buy them outright.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Boundaries 3
Remastered Command & Conquer Collection
Cyberpunk 2077
Kings Crusader III
Death Strand
Eternal Doom
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Fifa 21
Football Manager 2021
Grounded
Half-Life: Alyx
Horizon Zero Dawn
Mafia: Definitive edition
Marvel’s Avengers
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
Person 4 Gold
Resident evil 3
Sea of thieves
Star Wars: Squadrons
Temtem
The Outer Worlds
Wolcen: Morairean Mayhem
Best VR Games
Another segment defined by in-game revenue, DLC, and in-game purchases. These are mostly familiar games that I would expect to see on the list, but I hadn’t heard of VR Kanojo so I looked it up and oh jesus it’s all about hanging a- out with a meaningful schoolgirl.
“Better yet, VR controllers simulate your hands in the game, allowing you to interact with it more directly,” the devs say. “Think of all the abilities!” Never be curious, Alice.
Arizona Sunshine
Beat Saber
Blade & Sorcery
Bone works
Half-Life: Alyx
Hot dogs, horses & hand grenades
Pavlov VR
Whip pistol
Superhot VR
Scrolls the Elder V: Skyrim VR
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sisters
VR Kanojo
Top retailers graduate from early 2020 reach
Defined by 2020 revenue from the game, DLC, and in-game purchases. There will be some great and long launches this year.
Blow the Conqueror
Galactic Deep Rock
Golf with your friends
Respect DJMax V.
Factorio
Hades
Noita
Water hazard 2
Skater XL
Squad
Torchlight III
Wolcen: Morairean Mayhem
Biggest game
Not based on sales, here. The most played segment goes by major parallel players in 2020, with the main series of games breaking 200,000. It’s basically the great multiplayer games you’d expect, as well as Cyberpunk obber, then the amazing look of Life Is Strange 2. Nice one, LIS!
Among them
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Cyberpunk 2077
Destiny 2
Dota 2
Grand Theft Auto V.
Life is strange 2
Monster Hunter: World
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
Playerunknown Battles
Terraria
Best control games based on the top daily players using a controller
Also with nothing to do with sales. Even as a Destiny player that has an attack group involving someone on a controller, it’s a surprise to see me here. Maybe that’s because the MMOFPS has enough players to push it into the top but harmful series.
Cyberpunk 2077
Dark Souls III
Destiny 2
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Fifa 21
Grand Theft Auto V.
Hades
Monster Hunter: World
NBA 2K20
Person 4 Gold
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
