Steam Users Love Old Games: 37% Playtime on Older Titles

Steam Users Prefer Older Games

In a nutshell: Steam’s Replay reveals a nostalgic gaming trend. While 2024 saw many new releases, older games dominated playtime.

Older Games Reign Supreme

A significant portion of Steam playtime went to titles released eight or more years ago. Games released within the last one to seven years also accounted for a large share of playtime.

New 2024 releases only made up a smaller portion of total playtime. This isn’t solely due to age, but also the continued popularity of long-standing games like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and PUBG.

New Hits Alongside Classics

Despite the dominance of older titles, some new games performed exceptionally well. Path of Exile 2 and Marvel Rivals, both 2024 releases, achieved high rankings. Other successful new titles include Helldivers 2, Delta Force, and Banana.

The single-player title Black Myth: Wukong also saw massive sales success.

Why the Nostalgia?

The sheer number of older games on Steam contributes to this trend. The vast library provides players with countless classic games to revisit.

Ultimately, while new releases capture headlines, the data shows a strong preference for familiar favorites on Steam.