December 6, 2024 by William Hatle

November 2024 – Top 10 New Releases on Steam

November was the month of sequels, with the newcomer list being dominated by follow-up games and remakes. The two sequels Farming Simulator 25 and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl topped the charts, both games surpassing 1 million copies sold and generating revenue of $47 million and $43 million, respectively.

The release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a testament to the resilience and dedication of its developer, GSC Game World. After starting development in 2009, the project faced setbacks when the studio dissolved in 2011. Following its revival in 2014, the game was officially reannounced in 2018, making its success all the more remarkable.

Perhaps wanting for more was Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the sequel to the critically acclaimed Microsoft Flight Simulator that rekindled a love of flying during the COVID era, generating a modest $3.7 million in its opening month. While OpenCritic scores remain at a respectable 75, persistent bugs have dragged the UserCritic ratings down to a concerning 44%.

Notable in the top chart were the indie titles Luma Island and Elin claiming the 5th and 7th spot, grossing $3.8 and $2.3 million, respectively.

Another highlight was the full release of Magicraft, that had spent over a year in Early Access. The game grossed $1.7 million in November and nearly doubled its peak player count compared to when in Early Access.