If I had traveled back a year and told my past self that a game like Palworld, which is referred to as ‘Pokemon with guns,’ dominated the gaming landscape, I don’t think I would’ve believed myself. Lucky for us, the present reality has been providing enough proof to showcase Palworld’s popularity among the masses.
Pocketpair’s hit has not only defied expectations but has also smashed an age-old record on Steam. It overtook Counter Strike 2 to secure its position as the #1 game on the platform with the highest hours played over the last 30 days. The game’s triumph has turned it into a sensation within the community, leaving both enthusiasts and skeptics in awe.
Palworld Surpasses Counter Strike 2 as Steam’s Most-Played Game
Palworld has recently eclipsed the longstanding record held by CS2 on Valve’s platform, becoming the #1 game with the most hours played over 30 days. According to Steam charts, over the last 30 days, it has accumulated 573 million hours played, compared to CS2, which is sitting at 518 million hours.
While the game’s community on Reddit celebrated the achievement, some commenters explained why the numbers could be so high:
It’s a very very very misleading metric in this case. There are lots that are 24/7 servers. Most games have a 15-, 30-, or 60-minute AFK disconnect to lessen impact on servers. Palworld does not. I am approaching 600 hours according to Steam and have not played even 1/4 of that.
The commenter, an analyst by profession, offered some insight into what the actual statistics could be:
Hours played is a good metric for SOME games, but this game is probably one of the worst games to use as a metric. By ACTUAL hours played I would guess likely about 10% or less. Fun fact, the most played game by hours in the world by a wide margin is actually League of Legends, and it’s not even close.
In the game, players can spend time at their base and make their Pals perform tasks like mining and farming. As such, a common tactic is to assign your Pals tasks to do and leave the game on in the background.
This could be the reason for the game’s chart-breaking hours played achievement.
The Booming Popularity of ‘Pokemon with Guns’
While the game’s hours-played metric is probably inaccurate, it still has plenty of achievements and accolades to its name.
The game sold over eight million units on Steam and recorded seven million players on Xbox. It is said to be the biggest third-party launch on Xbox Game Pass ever and was the most-played game at the time, with three million daily active users.
It combines elements of simulation, strategy, and monster catching, allowing players to build and manage their world. The world’s creatures, called Pals, provide companionship and can be used as tools for various tasks, including manual labor and combat. Players thrust into this world must balance resource management, creature care, and strategic decision-making to thrive.
Have you given the game a shot? What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below!
