The current landscape for game developers is incredibly challenging, with Steam reaching an unprecedented number of new game releases in 2025, yet many struggle to find an audience.
Data from SteamDB reveals that 19,008 games launched in 2025. This substantial figure marks an increase from 18,558 titles in 2024 and 14,111 in 2023. This trend emphasizes that new games must contend not only with other recent releases but also with the vast catalog of established and popular older titles available on the platform.
Highlighting the difficulty of achieving visibility, 9,269 of the 19,008 games released this year have accumulated ten or fewer reviews. However, a positive trend indicates a gradual increase in titles receiving at least 100 reviews since 2020. While the current count is slightly below 2024’s figures, it is expected to stabilize by the close of 2025.
Launching a game on Steam requires relatively minimal effort, primarily involving some technical understanding and payment of the Steam Direct fee, approximately $100 / £73.99. Once approved, the onus falls on developers and publishers to effectively market their creations and distinguish them amidst the continuous influx of new releases.
Observing the continuous flow of new titles, it is evident that many low-quality games are appearing on Steam. The growing adoption of generative AI tools is likely to accelerate this trend, suggesting an even greater volume of releases in 2026. Instances of games explicitly stating they are “100% AI-generated” are already emerging.
Providing a review for a game you enjoyed remains one of the most impactful ways to support its developer. This simple action can significantly aid a game’s visibility and success.
