Steam's Most-Played Games in April 2025

Seam in April 2025 felt like stepping into a grand arena. A roar of over 40 million concurrent players echoed through its digital halls — a new record that set fire to the gaming world. But raw numbers only tell half the tale. What truly matters is which games captured imaginations, sparked rivalries, and forged communities this month. From heart-pounding tactical duels to whimsical indie delights, April’s most-played Steam titles mapped out a landscape as varied as it was vibrant.

So, sharpen your senses and ready your dual katanas of curiosity: let’s slice into the Top 12 most-played games on Steam this April. Expect not just stats, but stories. Not just data, but drama. And most importantly, discover what keeps millions logging in night after night.

At a Glance:  April’s Top 12

Whether you're into tactical firefights, sprawling fantasy sagas, or chaotic meme clickers, the month brought a little something for everyone. But for handheld warriors, one question looms large: Can I run this on my Steam Deck?

Good news—plenty of top-ranked titles play great on the Deck, and the experience gets even better when paired with a gaming monitor designed for on-the-go setups. Using a USB-C or HDMI connection via a compatible dock, you can plug your Steam Deck into a bigger screen and enjoy fluid gameplay with richer visuals, especially on monitors with high refresh rates. Whether you're diving into Counter-Strike 2's intense firefights or exploring Thedas in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the visual payoff is totally worth it.

Here’s a quick look at the most-played games on Steam in April, their genres, and how well they play on the Steam Deck:

Rank	Game	Genre	Avg. CCU (Apr)	Peak CCU (24h)	Steam Deck compatibility
1	Counter-Strike 2	Tactical FPS	657,123	1,625,546	✅
2	Dota 2	MOBA	254,278	548,733	✅
3	PUBG: Battlegrounds	Battle Royale Shooter	20,313	757,660	❌
4	Monster Hunter Wilds	Action RPG	77,970	115,539	❌
5	Marvel Rivals	Team-Based Hero Shooter	175,195	192,379	⚠️
6	Black Myth: Wukong	Single-Player Action RPG	—	2,151,942	⚠️
7	Dragon Age: The Veilguard	Fantasy RPG	1,068	89,418	✅
8	Bongo Cat	Casual Idle Clicker	126,053	158,019	❌
9	Baldur’s Gate 3	Narrative CRPG	103,715	123,814	✅
10	R.E.P.O.	Co-op Horror Looter	99,756	112,730	⚠️
11	Apex Legends	Hero-Shooter BR	92,294	175,650	❌
12	Banana	Party/Meme Clicker	91,976	122,898	❌

1. Counter-Strike 2 – The Unrivaled Titan

• Genre: Competitive Tactical FPS
• Current CCU: 657,123 | Peak CCU (24h): 1,625,546
• Steam Deck compatibility: ✅(Deck Verified – Works great out of the box)

Counter-Strike 2 didn’t just arrive—it dominated. In a world hungry for precision and split-second decisions, Valve’s sequel stands as the ultimate proving ground. Five-on-five firefights unfold with a ballet of bullet tracers and grenade arcs. Every round feels like a mini-opera of strategy and skill.

What keeps CS2 atop the throne? It’s in the details. Sub-tick server updates ensure your shots land the instant you pull the trigger. Dynamic smoke grenades swirl organically, hiding players and tactics alike. The result is combat so fluid, so responsive, it borders on poetic.

And let’s talk skins. Millions of dollars exchange hands daily on Steam’s marketplace. From covert ops camo to rainbow-sheen rifles, the in-game economy is a living, breathing ecosystem. Pair that with rumors of an anti-cheat overhaul, and you have a title whose momentum shows zero signs of slowing.

For those taking CS2 on the road or craving a sharper, smoother display, a 2K 144Hz gaming monitor can turn every clutch moment into a masterpiece.

2. Dota 2 – The Eternal Battlefield

• Genre: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena
• Current CCU: 254,278 | Peak CCU (24h): 548,733
• Steam Deck compatibility: ✅(Deck Verified – Works great out of the box)

Think you’ve seen every MOBA twist? Think again. Dota 2 has spent more than a decade refining its alchemy of heroes, items, and maps—and April proved that age is no barrier to relevance. With over 120 heroes at your command, each match births a fresh saga of strategy and counterplay.

This month’s seasonal patch unleashed “Nova, the Starweaver,” a cosmic mage whose skills rewrite textbook plays. Item tweaks shifted the meta, sending even veteran players back to blueprints and forums. It’s the kind of design dance that keeps Dota’s community on its toes.

And speaking of spectacles: The International looms on the horizon, promising eye-wateringly massive prize pools and nail-biting qualifiers. Expect those numbers to spike yet again. After all, no game fuses competition, community, and high-stakes drama quite like Dota 2. Whether you're spectating epic clashes or queueing for ranked on the move, the 18-inch 144Hz FreeSync monitor delivers buttery-smooth action and tournament-level visuals wherever you play.

3. PUBG: Battlegrounds – Survivor’s Pride

• Genre: Battle Royale Shooter
• Current CCU: 20,313 | Peak CCU (24h): 757,660
• Steam Deck compatibility: ⚠️(Need to install Windows 11 on the Steam Deck and boot from an external SSD.)

Eight years in, and PUBG still tastes of grit and glory. It pioneered the last-man-standing craze, and it’s not ready to relinquish the crown. The April spike? A surprise return of the Erangel legacy map plus a “True Survivor” hardcore mode that yanks away HUD elements for pure, unfiltered tension.

Bullets whiz. Vehicles thunder. Dynamic storms roll in. And every drop feels like a gamble with fate. Sure, shinier rivals have emerged, but none match PUBG’s grounded realism. This is a world where bullet-drop math and destructible cover aren’t optional—they’re the core of every firefight.

Collabs with horror icons kept whispers in haunted lobbies, and seasonal 10-year anniversary events drew veterans back for one more run. PUBG endures because it combines authenticity with unpredictability—a recipe that refuses to grow stale.

4. Monster Hunter Wilds – Beasts and Beauty

• Genre: Action RPG
• Current CCU: 77,970 | Peak CCU (24h): 115,539
• Steam Deck compatibility: ❌

Capcom’s latest triumph sweeps players into sprawling ecosystems teeming with colossal creatures. Picture jungles that shift under monsoon rains and volcanoes that belch ash across hazy skies. Every hunt is a test of wits and reflexes—slash, dodge, stun, repeat.

Wilds doesn’t just show monsters; it gives them lives. Rathalos duels Tigrex for territory. Herbivores stampede at dusk. Your actions ripple through this living tapestry. And when you finally land the kill shot, the sense of accomplishment is visceral.

Marketing drums pounded hard ahead of launch. Early access buzz ran rampant on forums and video channels. And when April arrived, fans swarmed to carve their legends. Between community-driven hunting challenges and viral gore-splatter montages, Monster Hunter Wilds secured its spot among Steam’s elite.

5. Marvel Rivals – Superpowers Unleashed

• Genre: Team-Based Hero Shooter
• Current CCU: 175,195 | Peak CCU (24h): 192,379
• Steam Deck compatibility: ⚠️(Playable – switching to a Proton Hotfix compatibility layer allows the game to run smoothly.)

Ever wondered what happens when Iron Man teams up with Black Panther mid-battle? Marvel Rivals delivers that dream in glorious high-definition. This hero shooter marries arena combat with comic book spectacle, letting you swap gear and powers faster than you can say “Avengers assemble!”

Its crown jewel: the Team-Merge mechanic. Two heroes bond their abilities for overpowered combo plays—Thor’s lightning channeled through Stormbreaker while Storm herself summons a gale of fury. It’s cinematic chaos turned competitive sport.

April’s villain roster grew too. Epic crossover events dropped Doctor Doom and Galactus skins, sending player counts soaring. Rumor has it that X-Men are next. For comic fans and shooter junkies alike, Rivals is an addictively heroic thrill ride.

6. Black Myth: Wukong – Myth and Mayhem

• Genre: Single-Player Action RPG
• Peak CCU (launch): 2,151,942
• Steam Deck compatibility: ⚠️(Playable – Requires increasing the UMA buffer to 4 GB and using CryoUtilities to prevent crashes caused by high memory usage.)

Black Myth: Wukong didn’t just launch—it detonated. Drawing from the age-old Journey to the West, this game melds mythic storytelling with punishing Souls-like combat. You embody the Monkey King, bounding across shifting landscapes and morphing between forms at will.

Boss battles become grand operas of timing and tactics. One moment you’re a nimble fighter, the next a colossal stone monkey smashing foes with seismic fists. The visuals? Cinematic set pieces that rival Hollywood blockbusters. Every frame speaks of ambition and artistry.

Assorted streams, speedruns, and fan edits fueled its viral rise. When April hit, the Steam launcher groaned under the weight of curious newcomers and seasoned souls-slayers alike. Black Myth didn’t just meet expectations—it pulverized them.

7. Dragon Age: The Veilguard – A Hero’s Return

• Genre: Fantasy RPG
• Current CCU: 1,068 | Peak CCU (all-time): 89,418
• Steam Deck compatibility: ✅(Deck Verified – Works great out of the box)

BioWare’s long-awaited return to Thedas was more than a game—it was a homecoming. The Veilguard weaves moral choices and epic narratives into a tapestry that fans have yearned for since Inquisition. Darkspawn stir beneath the earth. Political intrigue bubbles in dimly lit courts. And your companions? Fully realized characters whose loyalties can be won or lost.

This entry unveils the Companion Heart system: every decision nudges faction hearts, unlocking unique quests and outcomes. Your world-state choices echo across lands, shaping future conflicts. It’s storytelling on a grand scale.

April’s numbers might pale beside giants, but for an RPG rooted in narrative depth, that peak concurrency is nothing short of heroic. The community’s passion—spun across lore threads, cosplay showcases, and modding feats—proof enough that The Veilguard reclaimed its crown. For players craving a deeper connection to Thedas on the go, a 120Hz gaming monitor makes every cinematic moment and combat spell shimmer with the clarity this saga deserves.

8. Bongo Cat – The Viral Virtuoso 

• Genre: Rhythm/Meme Indie
• Current CCU: 126,053 | Peak CCU (24h): 158,019
• Steam Deck compatibility: ❌(Unknown)

Who could have predicted that tapping feline paws would become a cultural touchstone? Bongo Cat did exactly that. This indie darling takes meme culture, plops it on virtual bongos, and hands you the sticks. Add TikTok-ready share tools and you have a perfect storm of virality.

Streamers can swap in trending tracks—“Africa” by Toto or “Never Gonna Give You Up”—and watch chat explode. The cat’s expressions animate in time with your beats. It’s simple. It’s delightful. It’s internet gold.

No massive studio pushed this phenomenon. Instead, organic memetic loops and influencer shout-outs propelled it. April’s spike came courtesy of a surprise collaboration with a major music label, unlocking licensed songs and fresh skins. Bongo Cat proves that sometimes, the cutest ideas reign supreme.

9. Baldur’s Gate 3 – The Epic Continues

• Genre: Narrative CRPG
• Current CCU: 103,715 | Peak CCU (24h): 123,814
• Steam Deck compatibility: ✅(Deck Verified – Works great out of the box)

Larian Studios’ masterpiece keeps rolling like a well-oiled war machine. Baldur’s Gate 3 marries D&D’s rulebook intricacies with jaw-dropping visuals and branching tales. Here, every choice slices deeper than steel—alliances form or fracture, romances bloom or burn, and entire armies rise or fall.

Combat is turn-based theater. Spells arc in slow motion. Dice-roll suspense crackles through every encounter. Multiplayer co-op adds unpredictable flair: will your friend betray you in pursuit of greater power? Victory tastes ever sweeter when shared or stolen. Pair it with a 24-inch monitor and every cinematic spell effect, dramatic dialogue, and battlefield twist feels even more epic—no matter where your party gathers.

Steady content drops—new classes, adventures, and mod support—keep adventurers logging back in. For those craving a living, breathing D&D saga, Baldur’s Gate 3 stands unrivaled.

10. R.E.P.O. – Haunts and Heists 

• Genre: Co-op Horror Looter
• Current CCU: 99,756 | Peak CCU (24h): 112,730
• Steam Deck compatibility: ⚠️(Playable – Need to custom-map controls for the best experience.)

Imagine sneaking through shadow-blanketed manors, loot bag strapped to your back, all while something unseen skitters just beyond your lantern’s glow. That’s R.E.P.O. in a nutshell—a co-op horror-shooter that dares you to risk terror for treasure.

Its genius twist? A fear-for-wealth mechanic. The more adrenaline spikes you endure, the greater your payout at extraction. Streamers love the tension; viewers cheer each narrow escape. Procedurally generated spooks keep every run unpredictable.

Seasonal creepfests—complete with holiday-themed nightmares—drive renewed spikes. Though indie-born, R.E.P.O. stands tall among horror heavyweights, proving that innovation often lurks in the shadows.

11. Apex Legends – The Legend Lives On

• Genre: Battle Royale Hero FPS
• Current CCU: 92,294 | Peak CCU (24h): 175,650
• Steam Deck compatibility: ❌(Unsupported)

Apex Legends continues its ascent as a hybrid marvel: the pulse of a battle royale with the freshness of hero abilities. Slide-jumps, zip-lines, and tactical pings compose an orchestral choreography of chaos and teamwork.

April’s highlight? A lore-packed event that unveiled a hidden vault on World’s Edge, teasing the next Legend’s arrival. Competitive leagues buzz with speculation, and cross-play ensures no champion is ever left behind.

Respawn’s steady drip of updates—new weapons, buffs, evolving story beats—keeps the arena electric. To dive into Apex is to embrace speed, strategy, and the thrill of the unknown.

12. Banana – The Unlikely Champion

• Genre: Party Game
• Current CCU: 91,976 | Peak CCU (24h): 122,898
• Steam Deck compatibility: ❌(Unknown)

Last, but certainly not least, Banana slipped into April’s top twelve like a rogue banana peel—unexpected, hilarious, and utterly infectious. This party game throws players into rapid-fire mini-games drenched in meme culture and slapstick humor.

Controls are a breeze. Objectives are absurd. One round you’re dodging flying toast; the next you’re racing hamsters on roller skates. The random game generator ensures laughter—and utter chaos—every match.

TikTok stars and streamer crews made Banana an unstoppable juggernaut. Its peak concurrency came during a mega-tournament hosted by a famous content collective, proving that in the right hands, even the simplest concepts can become global sensations.

Conclusion

April 2025’s Steam leaderboard was a kaleidoscope of genres and experiences. Competitive titans like Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 proved that precision and teamwork never go out of style. Meanwhile, narrative powerhouses such as Baldur’s Gate 3 and Black Myth: Wukong showcased that solo adventures can still command astronomical engagement. And let’s not forget the indies—Bongo Cat and Banana—whose viral simplicity captured hearts and screens alike.

More than stats, these titles tell tales of communities forged in digital battlegrounds, of creators pushing boundaries, and of players seeking that next rush of exhilaration. With new expansions, sequels, and surprises already on the horizon, May’s charts promise fresh stories to unravel. Until then, whether you’re storming bombsites, hunting leviathans, or jamming bongos with a cartoon cat, Steam’s ever-evolving universe has something epic waiting for you every time you log in.

FAQs

Q1: What fuels a game’s meteoric rise on Steam?

It all comes down to momentum. Consistent content drops—be it fresh maps, new heroes, or seasonal events—keep players coming back for more. Add in a thriving eSports scene or high-profile tournaments, sprinkle in a dash of viral social-media hype, and you’ve got the perfect storm to propel a title up the charts.

Q2: How exactly does Steam tally up concurrent players?

Steam tracks two key metrics: real-time concurrent users (CCU) and 24-hour peak CCU. Real-time CCU shows how many players are online at this very second, while the 24-hour peak captures the highest spike within the past day. You’ll find both figures on Steam Charts and the official Steam & Game Stats page.

Q3: Which future releases could crash April’s party and steal the show?

Keep your eyes glued to Hades II’s rogue-like inferno, the sprawling sci-fi vistas of Starfield: Outlands, and the prehistoric thrills of ARK II Beta (landing in Q2 2025). Any one of these could ignite fresh player surges and shake up next month’s leaderboard.

Q4: How do underdog indies like R.E.P.O. and Bongo Cat punch above their weight?

They harness the power of virality. Meme-ready mechanics, seamless streaming integrations, and influencer shout-outs create instant buzz. With low barriers to entry and endless shareable moments, these games can leapfrog into the Top 10 almost overnight.

Q5: What role do community events play in sustaining a game’s hype?

Massive. Seasonal festivals, developer-hosted tournaments, user-generated content drives—these activations reignite lapsed players and keep die-hards engaged between major updates. When you pair meaningful rewards with live events, you forge a cycle of excitement that keeps CCU climbing.