As we cross the halfway mark of 2025, Steam has once again proven to be a powerhouse for game launches, with several titles dominating the charts. This year has already delivered an impressive lineup, captivating millions of players worldwide. From highly anticipated sequels to innovative co-op experiences and fresh takes on beloved genres, the gaming landscape on PC has been vibrant and dynamic.

This list explores the top contenders on Steam based on their highest active player counts, diving into what made them instant hits and why their communities continue to thrive. Get ready to discover the games that have defined the first half of 2025's gaming conversation.

Inspired by the French Belle Epoque era, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers a unique visual aesthetic with vivid colors, intricate environments, and a surreal atmosphere that draws players—especially art lovers—into a living painting. Its innovative combat blends classic turn-based RPG mechanics with real-time elements, attracting a broad audience.

The story explores themes of mortality, hope, and despair in a world where people of a certain age vanish each year in an event called “Gommage.” With voice actors like Charlie Cox, Jennifer English, and Andy Serkis, the game has received critical acclaim, scoring 92/100 on Metacritic and 9.7/10 from players. Developed over five years by just 30 people, it became an unexpected hit.

Rockstar has capitalized on GTA V for over a decade, and Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced reinforces this fact. Despite originally launching in 2013, it remains the most current GTA title until GTA VI releases, which explains its large player base. The Enhanced Edition features substantial technological upgrades, offering noticeable visual improvements on PC.

One of the key reasons the game remains popular in 2025 is the ongoing strong support for GTA Online. More than a graphical update, the Enhanced version delivers a modern experience through its online content, technical refinements, mod ecosystem, and control enhancements. It continues to satisfy both nostalgic players and newcomers, earning its place as a “timeless” game.

Originally a meme from 2018, Bongo Cat launched on Steam in 2025 as a free idle clicker game. It brings cute internet meme culture to life on the desktop, offering a simple yet highly engaging experience. With each keypress or mouse click, a cat on the taskbar reacts with an adorable tap, while a counter tracks your activity.

Players can unlock hats and customize their cat, turning their desktop into a fun and decorative space. Unlike most idle games that run in the background, Bongo Cat stays in constant interaction with the user, making it feel like a desktop companion. This charm fueled its widespread popularity.

The legendary RPG Oblivion is set in the land of Cyrodiil, where the “Hero of Kvatch” fights to close the gates to the Oblivion realm after the emperor's death. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered launched without a prior announcement and was added to Game Pass on day one, instantly boosting its visibility.

Within three days, it reached four million players and over 216,000 concurrent users on Steam. The remaster features fully rebuilt assets—graphics, UI, controls, audio, and animations—all modernized. With additions like sprinting, an updated leveling system, better combat, and included expansions, the game offers over 200 hours of gameplay. It's not just nostalgia—it’s a complete, modern revival of a classic.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II quickly gained huge popularity by building on the legacy of the first game and introducing many improvements. It reached over three million players within the first three months and peaked at 256.2K concurrent users on Steam. The series is known for its historically accurate RPG set in 15th-century Bohemia, offering a fresh alternative to fantasy games.

Players experience medieval life in detail—from clothing and sword fighting to social hierarchy and political intrigue. KCD2 continues the story of Henry from Skalitz and features a more fluid and responsive combat system. The game world is twice as large, attracting both returning fans and new players seeking a realistic, challenging RPG.

Split Fiction tells the story of two struggling young writers, Zoe, a fantasy author, and Mio, a sci-fi writer, who are invited by a mysterious tech company to share their stories. However, the CEO, J.D. Rader, plans to steal their stories and erase their minds using a device called “the Machine.”

This cooperative adventure game quickly became very popular, selling over two million copies in its first week and earning more than $100 million. Developed by Hazelight Studios, creators of acclaimed co-op games like It Takes Two and A Way Out, the game offers a unique “Friend’s Pass” allowing players to invite friends to play for free. Its constantly changing mechanics and genre shifts keep gameplay fresh and engaging.

R.E.P.O. is an online co-op horror game released in early access that quickly gained immense popularity. It became especially viral among Twitch streamers and YouTubers due to its chaotic blend of horror and comedy. The game’s physics-based mechanics create absurd situations, while monster-induced panic moments produce highly entertaining content to watch.

Many players view R.E.P.O. as a horror adaptation of the successful formula seen in Lethal Company, attracting a large fanbase from that game. Its realistic physics make valuable items fall, roll, and make noise, adding both strategic depth and unexpected humor. Released at a low price point and continuously updated by Semiwork Studio, R.E.P.O. keeps its community engaged and growing.

Elden Ring Nightreign is set in an alternate timeline of the Lands Between, where events from the original game—like Marika shattering the Elden Ring or the Tarnished’s quest to become Elden Lord—never happened. Despite being a spin-off, Nightreign quickly gained popularity and reached high player numbers, ranking among Steam’s most played games on its launch day.

The original Elden Ring, a 2022 Game of the Year winner, is a massively popular FromSoftware title known for its deep combat and mysterious worlds. Nightreign builds on this legacy, attracting the huge fanbase naturally. Unlike the original, Nightreign focuses on roguelike elements and co-op gameplay, bringing a fresh experience to FromSoftware’s formula.

Schedule I is an open-world crime simulation set in the gloomy West Coast city of Hyland Point. Players control a small-time drug dealer arriving with no money, products, or connections. Developed by a solo Australian developer, the game quickly drew attention from players and media alike.

Despite being an early access title, it became a viral hit, reaching 414,000 concurrent players within a week and ranking among Steam’s top sellers. With a “Breaking Bad”-style drug empire theme and dark, absurd humor reminiscent of South Park, it offers a unique mix of crime and comedy. The developer’s active communication and frequent updates have built strong community trust and engagement.

The Monster Hunter series became a global phenomenon, especially after the success of Monster Hunter: World, which sold 25 million copies. Wilds, considered Monster Hunter 6, is a highly anticipated sequel. It takes place in the Forbidden Lands, a dangerous region filled with storms and diverse biomes. Players control a hunter tasked with finding a lost exploration team as part of a hunter guild.

On launch day, Wilds reached 987,482 concurrent players on Steam within hours, quickly climbing to 1.38 million, ranking it among the top five games ever for peak concurrent users, surpassing titles like Dota 2 and Elden Ring. Including console players, the total number is much higher. It sold eight million copies in three days and ten million in a month, proving massive commercial success.