The Steam community is massive and with the year wrapping up many games are very active to this day. This is about the most played of the year, not the best seller, so there should be some surprises. Any developer can understand how difficult it is to keep people playing their game; having an active fanbase will immerse the user even more. These three active Steam games are competitive and have a passionate fanbase.

Steam Most Played Of The Year

Counter-Strike 2

The world-renowned first-person shooter Counter-Strike 2 has been played by many for over two decades. This game has been a pioneer for Esports with the international community, with over one million peak players a day this year on Steam. This should not be a surprise for avid gamers, and it is the most-played game by far on Steam. Many fans of the game have a love-hate relationship with it; some people do not enjoy it at all, though.

Counter-Strike, originating in 1999, has its limits, but its simplicity is what makes it special for most fans. The mechanics of the game have been mastered by many over its long tenure. As the competitiveness is clear in Counter-Strike and has been for over two decades, I don’t see it going anywhere in the future. Non-US sales and active players will always dominate the Counter-Strike community.

Dota 2

One of the most popular MOBA games of all time, Dota 2 is a unique experience. Strategy game fans will likely enjoy trying this video game on Steam. Those who have played League of Legends or other MOBA games should also look into Dota, as it has insanely in-depth features not found in most games. Being a 5v5 battle, it would be ideal to play among your friends for hours. A great feature is that every character is free and playable with many abilities.

It is just as big on the esports stage as a game like Counter-Strike and takes plenty of time and effort to compete with some teams. MOBA games may not be for everyone, but there is a reason Dota 2 is so popular. If you can put many hours into a complex strategic video game, it might be worth it to check out this game. The difficulty in mechanics can bring a certain satisfaction if you can master Dota 2. Daily players average at over 600,000. Much like Counter-Strike, it has been very popular for years.

Marvel Rivals

This is a game that is different from the previous two, as it was released just recently. A superhero team-based PVP shooter, Marvel Rivals currently has overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. This has been the talk among the gaming community so far this month. Being able to play as your favorite Marvel superhero in this capacity has proven to be a success.

One similarity shared with Dota 2 is the team-based gameplay that adds to the player’s immersion. The strategy is also essential in Marvel Rivals, with countless tactics for the player to use. As the release is so recent, this makes its success that much more impressive. Marvel Rivals has around 400,000 current players on Steam and is bound to continue to rise.

Conclusion

Some other games are still very active and being played despite being older titles. GTA 5 is an example of another game that has an active and loyal fanbase, with it being one of the most played games of 2024. This year has seen the release of some unique and fun games, but sometimes an established game is going to outperform in players wanting to come back. The Steam market is always fluctuating, and the top three most-played games of 2025 can look very different.