Indie Games Continue to Lead Steam Sales

According to Alinea Analytics, Steam’s sales rankings this past week (July 20 to 27) reflect a dynamic period for both new and established indie titles. Despite ongoing concerns from some industry voices about market stagnation, consumer spending and engagement on the platform remained steady. Four new releases entered the top 10 by copies sold, while familiar games like PEAK and R.E.P.O maintained strong positions, suggesting that innovation and accessibility continue to drive success on the platform.

Indie Games Continue to Lead Steam Sales

PEAK Remains at the Top

PEAK was once again the most purchased game on Steam for the week, selling 671,000 copies and generating approximately $4.3 million in revenue. The cooperative climbing title has now reached 6.8 million copies sold overall, with lifetime earnings exceeding $40 million. While 75 percent of players have spent less than 10 hours with the game, its affordable $7.99 price tag has made it a worthwhile purchase for many users.

The short playtime has not appeared to negatively impact player satisfaction, and its accessible co-op gameplay continues to attract new players. Although weekly sales volume is beginning to taper, PEAK has solidified its place as one of the more notable independent success stories of the year.

R.E.P.O Continues Its Strong Performance

R.E.P.O, a co-op horror game launched earlier this year, ranked third in week 30 after selling an additional 149,000 copies. The game has now reached a total of 16.3 million units sold and has generated approximately $127.7 million in revenue. Like PEAK, a large share of R.E.P.O players (over half) have played the game for fewer than 10 hours, yet its $9.99 price point and high user review score of 96 percent suggest a positive overall reception.

Regional engagement has played a significant role in its continued performance. Russia and Brazil each account for a notable portion of the audience, demonstrating the importance of pricing and localization in markets where consumer budgets are more constrained.

Indie Games Continue to Lead Steam Sales

WUCHANG’s Mixed Reception Fails to Derail Sales

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers debuted in second place, with 442,000 copies sold during its launch week. Developed by Chinese studio Leenzee and published by Digital Bros, the souls-like title has reached over 600,000 sales on Steam and an additional 240,000 on PlayStation. The game has earned roughly $40 million in total revenue across both platforms and is also available on Game Pass.

Despite strong sales figures, WUCHANG faced significant backlash due to performance issues on PC, which led to a wave of negative user reviews. The critical response was more favorable, particularly for the console version, with outlets such as IGN and GameSpot rating the game 8 out of 10. Feedback from players in China has been particularly negative, not only due to technical problems but also related to the game's depiction of historical events during the Ming Dynasty. Given that more than two-thirds of its audience is based in China, this has affected overall perception.

Although a recent patch has addressed several performance concerns, some new issues have emerged, indicating that further development work is needed. Despite the criticism, WUCHANG is currently outperforming similar genre titles at launch, including Lies of P and Nioh 2, making its commercial performance notable despite the challenges.

Indie Games Continue to Lead Steam Sales

New Releases Add Variety to the Top 5

Two newly launched games broke into the top five rankings. The King Is Watching, a roguelite kingdom builder from Hypnohead and published by tinyBuild, launched on July 21 and sold 139,000 copies during the week. The game’s performance has been supported by a successful demo during Steam Next Fest and a strong localization strategy, particularly in simplified Chinese, which helped attract an audience in China that now makes up over half of its player base. Some criticism has focused on the lack of mid-run saves, which the developer has acknowledged and is currently working to address.

Killing Floor 3, a cooperative horror shooter, placed fifth with 130,000 copies sold during the week. Although the game has received mixed reviews from users and critics alike, it has generated approximately $6.7 million in revenue from its Steam release alone. Reviews have noted solid visuals and core gameplay, but many longtime fans have expressed disappointment with the game's feature set compared to the 2016 installment. The game’s relatively modest performance on PlayStation, where fewer than 100,000 copies have been sold, indicates a more cautious reception outside of the PC player base.

Indie Games Continue to Lead Steam Sales

Mage Arena Gains Momentum Through Viral Exposure

Mage Arena, a lo-fi PvP title developed by solo creator jrsjams, entered the rankings at number six with 119,000 copies sold during its first week. The game features a unique mechanic in which players cast spells using voice commands, such as saying “fireball” into their microphone. This mechanic has generated significant attention on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, and has led to a surge in visibility and sales. The title sold an additional 116,000 copies on July 28 alone, bringing its total sales to 235,000 and generating $286,000 in revenue, thanks in part to its low $2.99 price point.

The developer confirmed that the idea for the game’s voice activation mechanic was inspired by a humorous Tumblr meme. Despite the presence of some bugs, player reviews have been largely positive. The game is expected to leave early access within the next six months, at which point the price will increase. Its largest market is currently the United States, followed by Poland and Russia, suggesting the potential for further global expansion given its low system requirements and accessible price.

Indie Games Continue to Lead Steam Sales

Catalog Titles Continue to Perform

Several older titles also performed well in week 30. Stardew Valley sold 98,000 copies at its full $14.99 price, reflecting continued strong interest nearly a decade after its initial release. The game had previously seen a large spike in week 28 when it was available at half price. The consistent sales at full price demonstrate enduring interest and high replay value.

Red Dead Redemption 2 placed eighth with 75,000 copies sold, bolstered by a recent discount from $60 to $15. The game has sold over 75 million copies across all platforms to date and continues to be one of the highest-grossing premium titles available.

Undertale followed in ninth place, with 74,000 units sold during the week, largely driven by a temporary price reduction to $2. Interest in the game remains strong among players anticipating the release of Hollow Knight: Silksong, which appears frequently on user wishlists among Undertale fans.

Abiotic Factor rounded out the top ten with 70,000 copies sold during the week. The survival-crafting game exited early access on July 22 after roughly 18 months of development and has benefited from renewed interest as it reached version 1.0. Publisher Playstack adjusted the game’s price from $35 to $28 shortly after launch, possibly in response to market conditions.

The game is also available on console and through subscription services like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass. On July 27, Abiotic Factor recorded its highest daily active user count to date, surpassing the numbers seen during its initial early access release.

Indie Games Continue to Lead Steam Sales

The Broader Outlook

Steam’s week 30 results illustrate a robust and varied marketplace in which independent developers continue to compete effectively alongside larger studios. With strong performances from new releases and long-standing favorites, the platform continues to highlight the role of affordability, creativity, and community engagement in driving player interest. Innovations like voice-controlled gameplay in Mage Arena, combined with effective localization and pricing strategies, are helping developers reach wide audiences across diverse regions.

While not without challenges (such as technical issues and shifting player expectations) Steam remains a vital and evolving ecosystem for both creators and consumers. The success seen across different genres and price points underscores that the games industry, far from being in decline, is still full of opportunity.