The new year has barely begun, and Steam charts already showcase an exciting mix of fresh hits from 2025 and timeless favorites. Valve’s latest updates to the best-selling highlight how quickly trends can shift in PC gaming. Extraction shooters, superhero battles, and epic RPGs dominate the scene right now.
Steam Best-Selling Games Early 2026
As of early January 2026, ARC Raiders claims the number one spot. This extraction shooter from Embark Studios launched back in October 2025 and continues to draw massive crowds with its tense gameplay and ongoing updates. Players keep coming back for the thrill of scavenging in a dangerous world filled with mechanical threats.
Right behind sits the Steam Deck in second place—Valve’s portable powerhouse remains a bestseller thanks to steady demand.
Counter-Strike 2 holds strong in third, proving that classic competitive shooters never fade. The free-to-play title benefits hugely from microtransactions and a dedicated community.
The rest of the top 10 mixes newer releases with enduring hits:
- Marvel Rivals – NetEase’s hero shooter brings chaotic fun with Marvel characters.
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – Larian Studios’ masterpiece keeps selling years after launch, thanks to its deep storytelling and replayability.
- Warframe – Digital Extremes’ free-to-play action RPG thrives on constant content drops.
- Battlefield 6 – EA’s latest entry delivers massive multiplayer battles, though player numbers have dipped since its October 2025 release.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – This turn-based RPG with real-time elements stunned everyone in 2025 with its beautiful art and emotional narrative.
- Dispatch – A standout title blending strategy and action.
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Ubisoft’s open-world adventure in the Avatar universe rounds out the list.
This blend shows how 2025 blockbusters like ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6 carry momentum into the new year, while older gems refuse to budge.
