Stardew Valley surpasses Portal 2 to become Steam's top-rated game
The cosy farming simulator, created by solo developer ConcernedApe, was first released almost ten years ago and continues to attract a large and active community.
Over the years, it has received updates introducing new NPCs, multiplayer features and additional content, helping to maintain its popularity.
As of July 2025, Stardew Valley has overtaken Portal 2 on Steam's top-rated list with a score of 8.87 from 899,309 votes, according to Steam250.
Portal 2, released in 2011 and widely considered a classic for its puzzles, mechanics and humour, now holds the second spot with a score of 8.85 from 436,510 votes.
The list, based on user reviews, frequently changes, but Stardew Valley's rise to the top marks a notable achievement for the indie title, which has been praised for its relaxing gameplay and pixel art style.
ConcernedApe has previously indicated the possibility of a sequel to Stardew Valley, although he is currently focused on his upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
PEAK devs secretly join Twitch games as Bingbong the toy with real-time voice chat cameos
Developers of the viral hit PEAK are sneaking into live games by controlling Bingbong, the in-game stuffed animal companion, to interact directly with players on Twitch. The unexpected appearances have sparked surprise and confusion, with some players initially believing Bingbong's voice lines were pre-recorded — until he started responding to their questions in real time. In one stream, Bingbong said, 'Don't leave me…' after players tried to move on without him. Another shouted, 'Why does it sound like a real person in our call?' One dev even screamed, 'I'm in the water!' and made unexpected comments like 'I love Pride Month.' It became clear the voice was live, leading a stunned streamer to admit, 'We almost left a real dev just in the water.' Bingbong also has a dedicated voice volume slider, hinting that more antics might be planned. The game, developed during a one-month game jam by indie teams Aggro Crab and Landfall, launched in June 2025. PEAK quickly sold 5 million copies and hit over 102,000 concurrent players on Steam. Despite the fast success, the devs have kept the tone light, playful, and community-focused. Instead of disappearing post-launch, the developers have added surprise elements that blur the line between in-game character and real human presence. The trolling has been received as humorous and fitting with the chaotic, meme-worthy style of the game.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
Steam player records broken by Umamusume upon release of Kitasan Black card
Umamusume: Pretty Derby has nearly doubled its Steam player count overnight, driven by player demand for a single card. The game's Western release has seen strong interest, but the introduction of the Kitasan Black SSR card has now pushed the game to new player count records on the platform. Steam charts recorded a peak of 87,000 concurrent players, up from a previous high of around 50,000. This surge was triggered by the release of the Kitasan Black card, a support card valued by players for its increased hint frequency, speed affinity, and the ability to boost the appearance rate of support characters during training. Dedicated Umamusume players have been preparing for the card's arrival, saving in-game resources to maximise their chances of pulling Kitasan Black. However, obtaining the full benefits of the card requires reaching level 45, a milestone that needs three duplicates of the card, prompting some players to spend significant amounts of real-world money. Some players have resorted to rerolling accounts by deleting their data to attempt multiple pulls during this period, contributing further to the sharp increase in player activity. The unique mechanics of Umamusume allow for this approach, making it a strategic time for players aiming to secure the card during its initial banner availability. While Umamusume's main audience is on mobile platforms, the surge in Steam players underlines the game's growing popularity in the West.
Express Tribune
09-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Stardew Valley surpasses Portal 2 to become Steam's top-rated game
Stardew Valley has surpassed Valve's Portal 2 to become the top-rated game on Steam, nearly a decade after its release. The cosy farming simulator, created by solo developer ConcernedApe, was first released almost ten years ago and continues to attract a large and active community. Over the years, it has received updates introducing new NPCs, multiplayer features and additional content, helping to maintain its popularity. As of July 2025, Stardew Valley has overtaken Portal 2 on Steam's top-rated list with a score of 8.87 from 899,309 votes, according to Steam250. Portal 2, released in 2011 and widely considered a classic for its puzzles, mechanics and humour, now holds the second spot with a score of 8.85 from 436,510 votes. The list, based on user reviews, frequently changes, but Stardew Valley's rise to the top marks a notable achievement for the indie title, which has been praised for its relaxing gameplay and pixel art style. ConcernedApe has previously indicated the possibility of a sequel to Stardew Valley, although he is currently focused on his upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier.
