SteamDB, the third-partySteamdata compiler, added a new feature over July 26 weekend, which introduces a new way to look at game data across the popular PC gaming platform. This feature shows the games that are"most played on Steam by daily active users."
Unlike the “Concurrent Steam Users” chart, which ranks games by how many people are playing at the same time, the new Daily Active Users leaderboard onSteamDBis based on how many unique players launch each game over a 24-hour period. Thispaints a completely different picture of the most popular games on Steam.
If we overlook the multiplayer titles, what remains is a list ofvaried games that are currently being played the most often every day.Of course, this list will change as more games come and go, but it provides an interesting cross-section of which single-player Steam users are actually playing on a day-to-day basis.
Since Steamdb has just started tracking this metric, it’s hard to say ifGTA5saw an uptick in daily players after theGTA6trailer was released earlier this year. Regardless of the reason,Grand Theft Auto 5 Enhancedremains apopular everyday title for fans.
TheEnhancededition wasreleased in March of this yearand introduced upgraded visuals, faster loading, surround-sound audio, and some new content.
It also combines bothGTA5andGTA Online,which may also account for the large daily player count. Still, sinceGTA5includes asingle-player experience, it makes this list.
Ready or Notis a tactical FPS thatplaces players into intense situations as a SWAT police officer.The fact that it shows up in the most-played Steam games by daily active users comes as a complete surprise.
The game isexperiencing an intense review bombingat the time of this writing, causing its rating to shift from the respectable “Mostly Positive” to “Mostly Negative” based on recent reviews. Players are angry with the game’s devs, VOID Interactive, for censoring a game known for being gritty and uncomfortable.
It seems, though, thatall the negativity surrounding the game isn’t stopping players from playing it. This might show why review bombing isn’t always an effective way to bring about change, if the reviews don’t actually change the number of people playing the game.
Simulator games have really taken off in recent years, with everything from power-washing to farming getting the realistic sim treatment.Euro Truck Simulator 2is one of those games thatseems like it would be very niche, but it turns out to be one of the most popular games on the platform at the moment.
The game lets players assume the role of atrucker charged with delivering cargo all over Europe. Players can drive around over 60 beautiful European cities, grow their business, and even chat with other players in a multiplayer mode.
For a game released in 2013 as a one-touch mobile platformer,Geometry Dashis doing remarkably well on Steam in 2025. The game issimple but brutally challenging,a combination that makes it insanely addictive.
Like many of the other single-player games on this list, the success ofGeometry Dashover a decade after its release can also be attributed to its thriving community. The base game has 18 levels, butit’s the player-created levels that keep fans coming backagain and again.
Despite having internet darling Keanu Reaves as one of the game’s main characters,Cyberpunk 2077had a rough start.
The game wasplagued with bugs and crashes on launch, leading to some brutal reviews. Many fixes later, CD Projekt Red has managed to completely win its fans back over.
The five-year-old game continues to be played daily by fans, in part thanks tomodders keeping things fresh. Therecent Update 2.3undoubtedly brought fans back into the game, too.
Baldur’s Gate 3is the closest you can get to playing aDungeons & Dragonscampaign in a video game. The story-driven game has hundreds of hours of content thanks to the near-infinite ways that players can interact with the world and its characters.
As such,Baldur’s Gate 3frequently appears in “most-played” lists, includingSteam’sown “Steam Deck Top Played” list, where it’s currently sitting in third place for the past week—followingBalatroin second place andStardew Valleyin first.
According to a review by Steam userZelisca, who has put over 1,200 hours into the title:
“This game has fundamentally changed (and improved) my life. It has changed everything that I have thought a video game could be. This game has been a boon to my marriage, a salve to my mental health, and a light in the dark.”
With such glowing praise, it’s no wonder players keep coming back toBaldur’s Gate 3.
There’s something incredibly addictive about the pixelated side-scrolling sandbox building elements ofTerraria.The gameallows players to get creativeand build some incredible structures through fairly simple mechanics, making it a game that fans play frequently.
I myself have put in at least 400 hours across four different gaming platforms—and will likely return again in the future.
Even developer Re-Logic seems to be having trouble putting the game to rest. The last major update to the 14-year-old title was supposed to be the2020 “Journey’s End,“but there have been five more updates since then—each oneallegedly being the “final” update.
EA’s yearly sports games often receive criticism for being cash grabs that don’t add enough to warrant full price. In spite ofEA Sports FC 25’smixed reviews on Steam, though, this2024 soccer simulatoris among the most-played in terms of daily players.
Like some of the other games in this list, this might be partially thanks to the game’s multiplayer element. Even though the game has arobust single-player aspect, the multiplayer might be what’s keeping fans returning every day.
Stardew Valleywas apassion project by solo developer ConcernedApethat was released in 2016. What was once written off as aHarvest Mooncloneis today one of the most beloved cozy games of all time.
Thecharming pixelated farming simcontinuously tops charts and has athriving player base and a wholesome community. The gameplay is simple enough to relax with, but deep enough to keep players engrossed for hours.
As a result, it’s no surprise to findStardew Valleyonce again near the top of a “most-played” chart.
At the moment, only one game has managed to dethroneStardew Valleyas having the most daily players.Peakisnewcomer on the scene, releasing just last month, but it’s already amassed a massive following andachieved viral success.
Peakinvites quirky, cartoonish characters to climb to the top of a mountain. The gamecan be enjoyed solo or with friends, with the multiplayer element certainly helping to make it as popular as it is.
The fun but brutal game has emerged as a viral sensation and one of the most-playedSteamgames, based on daily player count.
