Steam Charts: Demons And Souls

I say top ten, but there are actually only seven different games in the past week's Steam charts, once pre-orders and deluxe editions are filtered out. It seems like a lifetime ago that Stardew Valley and Factorio were doing a little indie rampage around the charts, as Steam's best-sellers have now very much reverted to big-brand type. Also: pre-ordering sure doesn't seem to be going away any time soon, no matter how unwise it might seem.

I get these charts from PC game news stalwart Blues, who seem to have access to some magical Valve mailing list that I don't (I must look into that), and it seems it's just changed a little, as previously pre-orders were bundled along with release sales. Though Total Warhammer isn't noted as being a pre-order, even though it is - the game's not out for a couple of weeks - so clearly there's some element of Steam making it up as they go along here. Anyway, this is a very much a sequels and licensing-dominated chart, with the exception of new kid Stellaris: already established as a big deal, of course.

1. DOOM

This being last week's sales, and given that are pre-orders are now accounted for, I guess this has charty-topperised based on Friday and Saturday sales alone. Which is pretty good going. And, frankly, pretty well-deserved too. I shall be telling you why that is a little later today.

2. Stellaris

If this isn't Paradox's biggest hit to date, it soon will be. Grand strategy in space turned out to be something that half the world wanted. I'm still chipping my way into it, having been fairly frustrated by niggles in its interface and how much presumed knowledge it asked of me. Neither of these were deal breakers, they just meant I had a colder start than I'd hoped.

3. DOOM

Steam Pre-Purchase

DOOM remains a name which can earn itself a whole pile of money, put it that way. Though I'm curious if it's done as well as console, where the venerable old demon-shooter doesn't mean quite as much as it does in the dusty halls of Castle PC.

4. FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster

5. Stellaris

A tenner extra gets you a few bonus in-game options and some soundtracky stuff. The main draw is an "extra" alien race, though when I mentioned this last week, it was pointed out to me that it's not a whole new faction but rather just a new piece of art. Hmm.

6. Stellaris

(Pre-Order)

Still hoovering up the pre-sales before its release early in the week, basically.

7. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

This isn't really Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, of course. A routine SteamID error means that Limbo Of The Lost is mis-reporting on Steam, and thus tragically denied its deserved glory.

8. DARK SOULS III

Two weeks ago, I sneered at Dark Souls as e-peen waving by J-game fetishists. Then something happened. Yesterday, I bought a copy of Bloodborne. From Software have got me hard. I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT.

9.Sid Meier's Civilization V: Complete Edition

A combo of a deep discount to £8 for the maxi-bundle (still the case now) and excitement around the Civ VI pushed Firaxis back into the charts. I can't wait for VI, although do have some trepidation based on how Beyond Earth twice failed to light my fire. I wonder if there'll be a second expansion for that or if it's been quietly given up on, with full steam ahead for Civ VI instead?

10. Total War: WARHAMMER

Couple of weeks to go for Total Warhammer. I know Games Workshop's physical sales are in the doldrums - hey, stop charging so much for your figures, Ian Workshop, and then maybe me and everyone else could actually buy some - but clearly a great love of their world remains. Hey, who do I have to lapdance to get a 'review' copy of Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower?