Despite its origins,the independent video game industry has already generated multiple international phenomena that go beyond a niche.
With products attracting millions of players and sweeping categories in the main awards ceremonies, it’s undeniable thatindie gamesare a considerable force with giant audiences.
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From franchises established for years to every new IP on the horizon, these kinds of creations are a reality whose impact, considering their scale, is no small feat.
However, there are titles with massive crowds, either due to their history or their recent viral success, so we’ve gathered a worthy selection of these in this list often indie games with huge concurrent player counts.
The numbers for simultaneous players are from the time the list was written.
10Slay the Spire
Concurrent Players: 15,924
Slay the Spire
As one of the most pleasant surprises on the list,Slay the Spireproves why it’s the best deck-building roguelike game of all time.
With the upcoming release of its sequel, fans of the genre are more excited than ever, andthe best way to quell their cravings is through the original title that has amazed us all for years.
The game has such an addictive gameplay loop and a deep dose of content that it doesn’t surprise me at all that, eight years after its release, thousands of people are still playing it.
Slay the Spire 2is among my most anticipated games of 2025, and seeingSlay the Spireon this list has made me want to play it again and keep ascending with The Silent, so I think I’ll join the concurrent player count.
Concurrent Players: 16,379
AlthoughValheimis far from the behemoth it was at launch, its early access is still very much alive, reminding us thatthe future of multiplayer is indie.
Its player base has shrunk to approximately 5% of what it once was, butit is still among the most active communities today thanks to its vast,procedurally generated depth.
The fact that it has shrunk so much and still managed to make it into this selection is the most vivid reflection of its immersive gameplay, whose brutal Viking survival experience remains among my most entertaining adventures with friends in the last couple of years.
Indeed, I haven’t returned to it in quite some time, and I don’t plan to do so soon, but simply because of whatValheimrepresented for me, I’m overjoyed to see its continued success.
8The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
Concurrent Players: 22,110
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
Speaking of roguelikes that have stood the test of time like champions,The Binding of Isaac: Rebirthremains as vibrant as ever.
As one of indie gaming’s pillars,its perpetual popularity was not only expected but also desirable, as Edmund McMillen’s work deserves every ounce of recognition.
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Few times in my life have I experienced such a spiraling hole as I did when I first discoveredThe Binding of Isaac, because the only thing harder than understanding it is putting it down once you’ve mastered it.
Between the additional content, mods, and the game’s sheer expansiveness,it’s practically a matter of logic thatThe Binding of Isaac: Rebirthis still one of the most-played indie games on Steam.
7Project Zomboid
Concurrent Players: 25,615
Project Zomboid
When a game has an incredible premise, it’s easier to understand how its early access phase can generate so much buzz, which is precisely what’s happening withProject Zomboid.
The title has certainly been in this development phase for a long time, but that hasn’t stopped it from gathering a passionate community of players who arefans of realismand demanding multiplayer.
Add to that the availability of mods, the ability to play with friends, the endless experiences that can arise spontaneously given the game’s sandbox style, and the tremendous amounts of customization, andyou have the necessary combination for a massive hit.
Project Zomboidis the perfect stereotype of a game you’ve dedicated many hours of your youth to and to which you keep returning because it provides a space of comfort despite the number of zombies and unfulfilled hopes for the final release.
6Don’t Starve Together
Concurrent Players: 33,744
Don’t Starve Together
There are very few instances where a standalone expansion has surpassed the popularity of the original game from which it sprang, and one of them isDon’t Starve Together.
WhileDon’t Starveis a magnificent title, it was its multiplayer aspect that truly achieved mainstream popularity,especially since the formula of fighting God with a rock attached to a stick is still quite effective.
Even I, who normally abhor titles involving survival mechanics, findDon’t Starve Togetherfascinating, with its controlled chaos and countless variety of events that can shape your game with your friends.
Furthermore, even though it’s not necessary,Klei continues to release updates with religious regularity, which has allowed the game’s word of mouth to grow even more positive with no need for a big media platform.
Concurrent Players: 36,619
As one of the list’s least surprising entries, especially considering it’s among the highest-rated indie games in Steam history,Terrariastill garners thousands of concurrent players every day.
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I love exploring when the game trusts me to do it myself.
Thanks to its thousands of hours of content, endless gameplay possibilities, and addictive systems that always give you extra reasons to keep playing,anyone who starts enjoying this game will find it almost impossible to put down.
I had to force myself to cut back on my time because, after my first ten hours, I knew what was coming, asTerrariais among those rare anomalies that last hundreds of hours butnever stop getting better.
Still, even with sporadic play sessions, instead of immersing myself in it as if it were my second life,Terrariaoffers unparalleled entertainment that fully justifies its massive audience.
4Geometry Dash
Concurrent Players: 39,551
Geometry Dash
If I had a coin for every hour I spent onGeometry Dashduring my school days, I’d probably have enough to fund the 2.2 update and prevent it from taking so many years to come out.
Being among the last decade’s great mobile products,this rhythm game is one of those wonders capable of breaking demographic barriers of all kinds, largely thanks to its affordable price and mesmerizing composition.
There comes a point where the title becomes an absolute madness that only the most avid gamers can even fathom, but its ability to adapt to every need and desire is even greater.
Part of me didn’t expectGeometry Dashto be here, but another part understands it completely. It’s a title that never ages, makes for quick play, and is always fun, so it has this irrevocable feeling ofwanting to try one more time to overcome the track that keeps beating you.
Concurrent Players: 43,051
PEAKis the most recent video game on this list, and it’s taken the industry by storm.
The creators ofAnother Crab’s Treasuresurprised everyone by releasing a multiplayer game about climbing nature scouts out of nowhere, and it took less than a month to sell millions of copies worldwide.
Truth be told, the title is incredibly challenging,with many mechanics designed with the simple goal of having as much fun as possible and creating hilarious circumstances, which has positioned the game positively among content creators.
PEAKquickly became known, with a fairly affordable price, many biomes that change the title’s approach, and infinite seeds that make each climb unique.
Playing it alone also has its charm, but believe me when I saydoing it with friends will easily be remembered as one of 2025’s best multiplayer experiences.
Concurrent Players: 47,144
R.E.P.O.also came out this year, and although it’s still in early access, that hasn’t stopped it from being among the highest-rated multiplayer games on Steam.
The reasons are similar toPEAK’s case, with its medium-length match cycles, ever-changing raids that are rarely the same, and a knack for generating hilarious situations.
These factors are great by themselves, butR.E.P.O.has found tremendous exposure through social media, whose nature has allowed it to showcase the best features of a game that actively relies on this type of platform for coverage.
We may not have seen the most refined version of the project yet, but success has already been achieved.It has been one of the most played titles on Valve’s platform for months, and nothing suggests it will change as the year progresses.
1Stardew Valley
Concurrent Players: 101,287
Stardew Valley
It’s no coincidence that the highest-rated indie game in Steam’s history is also the indie game with the most concurrent players, asStardew Valleyis absolutely transcendent.
The game, developed byEric Barone,has become part of modern digital culture, able tobreak the barriers of the video game niche to reach all kinds of players regardless of their backgrounds.
Thanks to its’one more day' gameplay loop, we’re talking about one of the most addictive titles in history, capitalizing on years of advancements in simulation and management games to create the genre’s ultimate experience.
I imagine I’ll live long enough to see something dethroneStardew Valley, but I don’t know if it will be soon. The stars aligned to allow the creation of a game that combines massive popularity and extraordinary quality,so its reign will likely continue for much longer.
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