Valve‘s “Best Of” list for 2023 offers a revealing glimpse into the gaming world, showcasing the most successful games on Steam in various categories. This list doesn’t just tell us which games were popular; it offers insights into the changing landscape of gaming and player preferences.

Games like Destiny 2 are still sporting a large player base

The top sellers, including titles like “Apex Legends” and “Baldur’s Gate 3,” demonstrate a blend of long-standing favorites and new hits. It’s interesting to see how games like “Destiny 2” continue to attract a large player base, proving that a game’s age doesn’t always dictate its popularity.

Counter Strike 2

In the category of new releases, games like “Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon” and “Hogwarts Legacy” made a strong impression, showing that gamers are eager for fresh experiences and new worlds to explore.

The most-played games, led by titles such as “Apex Legends” and “Counter-Strike 2,” highlight a community’s commitment to certain games, with player counts reaching impressive peaks. This commitment is a testament to the games’ ability to engage and retain players over time.

In early access, games like “Against the Storm” and “Baldur’s Gate 3” showed that gamers are willing to invest in games still in development, appreciating the chance to influence the final product.

The Steam Deck category, with games like “Cyberpunk 2077” and “Elden Ring,” reveals the increasing importance of portable gaming, showing that players value the flexibility to play high-quality games on the go. Controller-based play, featuring “Apex Legends” and “Elden Ring,” indicates a preference for the tactile, immersive experience that gamepads provide.

Finally, in VR, hits like “Beat Saber” and “Half-Life: Alyx” demonstrate the growing interest in immersive, virtual reality experiences, pushing the boundaries of traditional gaming.

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