Free-to-play vs paid games: reading their player counts

Why free games usually have bigger but less stable player numbers, and how to compare them with paid games.

Free-to-play games regularly sit near the top of Steam's most-played list. Their numbers behave differently from paid games, so it helps to read them differently.

Why free games look bigger

With no price to pay, trying the game takes one click. That brings a huge flow of new players, many of whom leave after a session or two. Large daily peaks are normal for free games, and so are large drops.

Why paid games look steadier

People who paid are more likely to keep playing, at least for a while. Paid games usually grow more slowly, but their player curve tends to be smoother.

Comparing them fairly

• Compare free games with free games. RisingPlay has a separate free-to-play list for this.
• Watch the shape over weeks. A free game that holds its level after launch week is doing very well.
• For paid games, a rise without a discount usually means real word-of-mouth.

Remember that Steam numbers do not include console or mobile versions of the same game, so cross-platform titles are larger than their Steam counts suggest.

Next guide: How to read Steam player counts