Steam Charts: Orcs, Orks and Uruks

"These charts are supposed to be weekly, Meer." "I know, but I keep having to go away for unhappy reasons." "Oh OK, but you'd damn well better tell me what were the top ten best-stelling Steam games last week, or I'm going to spraypaint pictures of bottoms onto your house." "Alright, alright, here you go."

1. DARK SOULS III

I've just started playing Dark Souls III, and after hearing all these amazing things both about its world and its challenge, I'm deflated that it seems to primarily be a game about constant, precise use of the block and parry buttons. I find blocking kinda boring at the best of times, which I appreciate is my problem not its, but it does mean that I can no longer in good conscience say that Dark Souls is too 'difficult' - instead I must acknowledge that I simply don't have the discipline for it. Anyway, sales-wise it seems to be strength-to-strength for a series once considered niche, at least within the resolutely anti-niche world of mainstream console-orientated gaming.

2.Rocket League

FUTURECARSSPORT somehow earns itself even more money, I believe thanks to the free basketball, or Hoops mode, update, plus assorted paid and gratis cosmetic items. Snooker mode by Christmas then, eh?

3. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

It is the year 2026. My name is Alec Meer, I am 47 years old, and every week for the last ten years I have tried and failed to find something new to say about CSGO still being in the Steam top ten.

4. Grand Theft Auto V

As far as I can tell this is still flying high thanks to its Inch by Inch adversary mode in April, followed by new maps for it and themed weeks peppered with new cars, various exp multipliers and in-game doohickey discounts. As a business, Grand Theft Auto V is conquering on all fronts.

5. ARK: Survival Evolved

Not that the online dino survival breakout hit every really went away, but I believe its latest tenure in these charts is down to the announcement of an official mod programme and a new, hand-made map at PAX. There was probably a discount too. There's usually a discount.

6. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition

Assassin's Creed but with Orcs-as-pro-wrestlers was reduced to $12 in a flash sale towards the end of April, which caused its re-entry here. It's built up a ton of goodwill since its release a year and a half ago, and I guess there was a whole mess of people willing to make the plunge once the price was right.

7. Total War: WARHAMMER

The highest-profile Warhammer game since the ill-fated Warhammer Online is here on pre-orders alone - it's not out until the 24th.

8. Battlefleet Gothic: Armada

Bit of a Games Workshop double-whammy, which is a strong achievement in a time when we're being flooded by oft-forgettable Warhammer and 40K adaptations. The flying death-cathedrals RTS met with a warm reception and so here it is. Must admit that it was leaving me slightly cold when I dabbled with it just before I had to disappear for a while, but I didn't make it far in - I must make time to go back.

9. DARK SOULS III Deluxe Edition

Add this on to the standard edition and DS3 is probably a country mile ahead of everything else in the charts. Oh by the way, if you're a Souls fan, my friend and sometime RPS contributor Keza Macdonald has co-authored a book about the cult and community of Dark Souls.

10. Factorio

I want to say that this is the only 'indie' game in this top ten, but really Rocket League and ARK are too. At some point I guess I'm going to stop thinking of this wee small game about giant huge construction as indie too, as it's been a mainstay of these charts for a couple of months now. Still warms my heart to see it here, though.