Game Discovery Insights from Gamescom
A bustling week at Gamescom has set the stage for fresh insights into the evolving landscape of game discovery. Our focus today is on the intriguing trends emerging from Steam tag data, which sheds light on the shifting preferences in PC game genres over the past five years.
Recently, I had the pleasure of joining Mike Rose and Rami Ismail on their podcast, Mike & Rami Are Still Here. Expect a blend of lighthearted banter and insightful discussions, particularly towards the end where we delve into predictions for the future of the industry.
Let’s dive into some noteworthy updates from the gaming platform and discovery realm:
- According to GDCo Pro’s estimates, the unreleased Steam game Wardogs, a 100-player FPS, is currently trending at #1, having recently achieved a peak of 105,000 concurrent users during its playtest. Following closely at #2 is Sally Face 2, a sequel to the cult classic 2D adventure.
- At #3, we find Dear Passengers, while the re-emerging Phantom Blade Zero holds the #4 spot. Newcomer Rerouted, a co-op survival game set in the Northern wilderness, debuts at #5. Other notable entries include the visual novel Tulpa The Unseen Lover at #7 and the indie street racer Heatwarped at #10.
- Steam is experimenting with personalized recommendations for its Midweek Deals, which run from Monday to Thursday. Logged-in users will see a tailored selection of discounted games, varying by account.
- Timed console exclusivity remains a hot topic, as highlighted by the latest trailer for Silent Hill: Townfall, which confirms its status as a PS5 exclusive for at least six months post-release.
- In a nod to history, Geoff Keighley reminded us that Valve was founded 30 years ago, marking a significant milestone in the gaming industry.
- A recent thread on ResetEra discusses the decline of physical retail for games, particularly noting the shrinking presence of Xbox consoles in big box stores.
- In an impressive feat, indie developer Kernel Hearts announced 50,000 pre-orders on the Epic Games Store, largely driven by a promotional Fortnite skin for early buyers.
- Steam has updated its documentation regarding pre-orders, advising developers to activate encrypted preloads for highly anticipated games to avoid cluttering players’ hard drives with multiple large patches.
- In Roblox news, the platform has blocked certain bots, resulting in decreased concurrent users. Interestingly, the game Steal an Egg achieved a record for the fastest time to reach 500,000 concurrent users.
- Entity has successfully raised .8 million to bring console-quality games to the ‘new web’, showcasing the growing interest in web browser gaming.
- Lastly, the issue of ‘keyword squatting’ persists on consoles, with the recent release Lethal Corporation drawing attention for its misleading title and branding.
The PC game market has undergone significant transformations over the last five years. To quantify these changes, we utilized ‘purified’ versions of Steam tag clouds to compare the market landscape of 2021 with that of 2025. This analysis focuses on genre tags from new games that sold over 50,000 copies, providing a clearer picture of evolving trends.
The results from 2021 reveal a market dominated by survival games, city builders, and action RPGs. Fast forward to 2025, and we observe a notable shift:
- Roguelite has surged to the top, gaining 39 spots, while Roguelike follows closely, climbing 37 spots.
- Action RPG remains a strong contender, moving up one spot to #4.
- JRPG, RTS, and Turn-Based Strategy genres have seen declines, likely due to the rise of hybrid-genre games.
- Life Sim games have gained traction, climbing 31 spots to #6, while City Builder has slipped to #7.
Additional noteworthy shifts include the rise of the Idler genre, which has jumped 46 spots to #15, and a resurgence in Racing games, now at #9. Conversely, Survival Horror has dropped to #26, while Psychological Horror has also seen a decline.
As we analyze these trends, it’s essential to consider the pricing landscape. The top games of 2021 featured only one title under , while the 2025 list includes three major hits priced below . This shift reflects a broader trend towards more accessible pricing in the gaming market.
In summary, the gaming landscape is evolving, with significant shifts in genre popularity and pricing strategies. As we continue to monitor these trends, we remain committed to providing valuable insights into how players discover and engage with games in this dynamic environment.
