Do you want to get an idea of what’s popular in the world of video games? Our comprehensive list of currently popular games is based on the number of active players and overall interest from the streaming community on sites like Twitch.
1. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
Looking at the number of active players worldwide alone, PUBG holds a well-deserved spot on the popular gaming charts, with over 100 million players enjoying this Battle Royale classic .
The concept of PUBG is to survive: up to 100 players are parachuted simultaneously onto an island where they must search for resources and weapons in an attempt to stay alive.
The free-to-play mobile version as well as the PC and console versions of PUBG generated $13 billion in global revenue.
2.League of Legends
League of Legends is among the titles that are already included in our exclusive list of the most played video games 2022 . Like PUBG, this crown jewel of Riot Games brings the genre of popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games to life. The concept of the game is simple and encourages many casual PC and mobile participants to give it a try.
Players form teams of five and compete in PvP battles . Teams must fight to defend their half of the map by doing everything possible to take control of the opposing half. The inclusion of League of Legends as a top eSports title also confirms that it is one of the popular video games this year.
3.Valorant
Valorant is one of Riot Games’ punchy releases, becoming one of the studio’s most played games. This title released in June 2020 adopts the free-to-play model and represents a tactical first-person shooter, strongly inspired by the enduring success of Counter-Strike.
You will play as part of an offensive or defensive team, looking to attack, defend or complete certain missions. Valorant is the second most popular game on Twitch, behind League of Legends.
4.Minecraft
Not mentioning Minecraft in a list of popular games of 2023 would be a monumental oversight. This classic sandbox survival game remains one of the most played video games today.
It is a 3D game exclusively for PC, compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux. Activeplayer.io says over 176 million fans played Minecraft in January 2023.
5. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
This multiplayer title which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year is one of the best first-person shooters on the planet. With Valve studio releasing periodic updates, CS:GO should remain one of the best PC games of all time . You’ll fight as a terrorist or counter-terrorist, taking on the opposing team in various objective-based modes.
The title adopted the freemium model in 2018, allowing fans to play CS:GO for free, with cosmetic add-ons available through the Steam platform. With 11 million monthly active participants, its eSports scene is one of the most active in popular games of 2023.
6. Call of Duty: Warzone
Launched in March 2020 by Infinity Ward and Raven Software, this popular free-to-play game is tied to Modern Warfare and Black Ops: Cold War. It is one of the most popular free games in 2023 for MMO fighting fans .
With 100 million monthly active participants in April 2021, Warzone’s average viewing figures on Twitch remarkably surpass those of Modern Warfare II, released in October 2022, earning it a place among the popular games of the year.
7. Apex Legends
Apex Legends is one of the newcomers to our top 10 popular games of 2023. It has characteristics of League of Legends and PUBG, as it is a fast-paced Battle Royale game with dynamic specific to shooting games .
Apex Legends has 50 million monthly active players. Its mobile version was released last May. Compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles since March 2022, it sits at the top of popular games.
8. Among Us
Another intriguing addition to our list of the most played video games of 2023. Developed and published by American studio Innersloth, Among Us has become one of the most played social deduction casual games online. Influenced by the horror and sci-fi film The Thing and the popular game Mafia, Among Us asks the crew members to detect and eliminate imposters.
Among Us has become the most well-known game in the world in 2020 thanks to numerous dedicated sessions by Twitch and YouTube stars. His stylized avatars have also become viral memes on social media. In November 2022, a standalone VR version of Among Us launched for Meta Quest 2 on PC, with plans for a PlayStation VR2 compatible release.
9. Dota 2
Dota 2 remains the seventh most popular game on Twitch based on average number of streams. That’s why this MOBA released in 2013 returned to our list of popular games. Sequel to Defense of the Ancients, Dota 2 has captured the imagination of all gamer profiles.
You enter a game with ten players, each controlling a “hero”. The latter accumulate items and experience points that allow them to defeat opposing heroes in faster PvP battles. Dota 2 never leaves the top of popular games, and The International 2023 remains one of the most lucrative eSports tournaments on the planet.
10.Roblox
Let’s not forget the rise of the Roblox platform, which allows individuals to design and program their own computer games. Some of them have become popular games with casual gamers.
A quick look at the “Discover” section of Roblox shows many genres of indie games , ranging from fighting games to robot and tycoon games.
Most played games ǀ Review
As you can see, our new list of this year’s most popular PC games differs from our top popular games of 2022. It’s clear that massively multiplayer online games continue to reign supreme, as do adventure in all its forms.
In fact, popular new games are hard to follow when you consider that Minecraft and League of Legends continue to shine more than ten years after their release date.