The Top-Selling Game on Steam Right Now Is Schedule I, an Indie Drug Dealer Simulator With More Players Than Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals

If you've been active on Steam, Twitch, or gaming YouTube recently, you've likely come across Schedule I. This indie drug dealer simulator has skyrocketed to become the top-selling game on Valve's platform, surpassing juggernauts like Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals after going viral on social media.

Schedule I debuted last week and swiftly climbed Valve's best-selling and most-played charts. Here's the game's official description:

From small-time dope pusher to kingpin - manufacture and distribute a range of drugs throughout the grungy city of Hyland Point. Expand your empire with properties, businesses, employees, and more.

Developed and published by TVGS, known as Tyler, he shared his thoughts on Reddit about Schedule I's explosive launch:

“Honestly, it’s amazing but pretty overwhelming,” Tyler said. “I never expected this kind of response! At the moment, I’m just trying to stay focused and get patches out ASAP. Also looking forward to getting started on content updates as soon as all major bugs are patched.”

In line with his commitment, Schedule I's Post-launch Patch #4 was released on March 29, addressing several employee bugs and multiplayer issues.

So, how successful is Schedule I? Emerging from obscurity, it's now the top-selling game on Steam, outpacing everything from The Sims competitor inZOI to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve ranks its top-selling chart by revenue, meaning the budget-priced Schedule I is generating more income than its full-price, triple-A competitors.

In terms of player engagement, Schedule I reached a peak of 414,166 concurrent players on Steam over the weekend, placing it among the top 30 most-played games ever on the platform. At the time of this article's publication, more players are enjoying Schedule I than Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals.

The community's response has been overwhelmingly positive. On Steam, the game boasts an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating, with 98% of reviews being positive. Here are some highlights:

"A woman came up to me and asked for weed, didn't like the price I offered, proceeded to stab me with a broken glass bottle. 10/10"

"Love this game"

"I was dealing drugs in an RV and it blew up"

"Got a motel and sold some weed"

"Created a meth empire"

"Then hopped on the game"

"Really great and hilarious game. Fun game loop and hilarious fun when playing with friends. I know it is in early access but I'd like the police to be a bit more active (They could search your place, look for you even after escaping, run speed greater than the players) as well as gang warfare and a larger map. Still, in its current state, it's brilliant. Defo a 10/10"

Schedule I is clearly a meme game, and its longevity remains to be seen. However, developer Tyler's life has undoubtedly been transformed, and substantial content updates are on the horizon.

If you're diving into Schedule I, don't miss IGN's guides on Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands and Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op.