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Over time, many popular video game series undergo changes, but not all these transformations are positive. Occasionally, new installments fall short of matching the high expectations set by previous versions, and sometimes they fail to capture player interest over a sustained period.

Consequently, numerous games from the Steam platform continue to surpass their follow-ups, even though they were launched several years ago and had smaller production budgets. These timeless, cherished titles demonstrate that being new isn’t always superior and that compelling and immersive gameplay can outshine graphical finesse.

In this work, all the figures have been sourced from SteamDB and were accurate at the time they were published.

7. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

  • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2018) – 6,389 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (2020) – 4,003 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Assassin’s Creed Mirage (2023) – 407 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2025) – 5,702 Players (24-hour peak)

Regardless of Ubisoft’s continuous claims that “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” has been a massive hit, it didn’t take long for players to shift their focus to other games. Instead, many have opted to revisit an older game from the series, with “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” currently being the franchise’s most widely played title on Steam. Not only does it surpass “Shadows,” but also “Mirage” and “Valhalla,” both of which were released several years after “Odyssey.

6. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

  • Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (2016) – 46,013 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Sid Meier’s Civilization V (2010) – 19,538 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (2025) – 11,044 Players (24-hour peak)

The games in the Civilization series have traditionally been slow to start, but the seventh main installment set a new standard. Within weeks of its release, many fans of the series had already revisited Civilization VI, and player counts for Civ 7 have steadily decreased since then. To make matters worse, there are currently approximately double the number of people playing Civ 5 compared to Civ 7, despite the latter being released more recently than the former by a decade and a half.

5. Microsoft Flight Simulator

  • Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) – 6,421 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (2024) – 3,819 Players (24-hour peak)

It’s fair to say that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 didn’t quite achieve the soaring success it may have anticipated. Instead of taking flight like expected, it encountered a storm of technical problems and reached only about 25,000 simultaneous players on its debut day – significantly lower than half the maximum player count of its 2020 predecessor. By the end of its first week, roughly two-thirds of the players had already bid farewell to the skies in 2024, with many returning to navigate the heavens once more using Microsoft Flight Simulator.

4. Cities: Skylines

  • Cities: Skylines (2015) – 15,283 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Cities: Skylines II (2023) – 11,256 Players (24-hour peak)

As a dedicated gamer who’s spent countless hours building and managing virtual metropolises, I can tell you that Cities: Skylines truly set the bar high. It was almost impossible for any city management game to live up to its legacy, as it’s often hailed as one of the best in the genre. Unfortunately, Cities: Skylines II didn’t quite reach those heights. Critics and players alike have given the sequel significantly lower scores compared to its 2014 predecessor. Given this, it’s not surprising at all to find out that more people are still engaged with the original game rather than the latest installment.

3. Assetto Corsa

  • Assetto Corsa (2014) – 16,982 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Assetto Corsa Competizione (2019) – 4,680 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Assetto Corsa EVO (2025) – 745 Players (24-hour peak)

Since Assetto Corsa EVO is still in its early stages, it might not be entirely fair to compare its player base to that of Assetto Corsa, a game often hailed as one of the most authentic racing simulations ever developed. Despite the numerous enhancements Assetto Corsa Competizione introduced, the original game retains a significant edge in popularity among players. This is primarily due to its superior Virtual Reality (VR) compatibility and a more dynamic modding community, aspects that appeal greatly to sim racing enthusiasts.

2. Battlefield 1

  • Battlefield 1 (2016) – 14,230 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Battlefield V (2018) – 14,017 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Battlefield 2042 (2021) – 8,978 Players (24-hour peak)

Initially, Battlefield 2042 seemed incredibly promising before its launch, but unfortunately, it fell short of expectations. However, over time, things have gotten better and playing with friends can still be entertaining, even if not quite as enjoyable as the previous two installments. At this moment, Battlefield V and Battlefield 1 on Steam boast more active players, with Battlefield 1 just barely surpassing Battlefield V as the most played Battlefield game on the platform.

1. Resident Evil 4

  • Resident Evil 4 (2023) – 7,537 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Resident Evil 5 (2009) – 948 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Resident Evil 6 (2012) – 907 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Resident Evil 7 Biohazard (2017) – 1,048 Players (24-hour peak)
  • Resident Evil Village (2021) – 1,530 Players (24-hour peak)

Indeed, the recent remake of RE4 was introduced later than the four main sequels to the original Resident Evil games. However, its sustained appeal among players is truly noteworthy. In fact, it boasts more active gamers than all the following four titles in the series put together. It’s worth noting that the remake of Resident Evil 2 should also be highlighted, as it has a significant lead over the remake of RE3 (661) and Village, both released later, with 1,918 active players compared to the former’s 661.

Honorable Mentions

Some games that don’t quite fit the requirements for this list are worth highlighting nonetheless. For instance, Grand Theft Auto V Legacy boasts a player base of nearly 100,000 at its peak, significantly larger than that of Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced (73,657). Interestingly, the latter is believed to be the superior version of the game. In a similar vein, ARK: Survival Evolved (41,574) maintains a more substantial player count compared to ARK: Survival Ascended (23,943), as evidenced by their respective 24-hour peaks.

In a twist, “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” (40,298 players) is actually the follow-up to “Oblivion,” but its remastered version came out over a decade later and boasts fewer players (38,713) than its older counterpart at the time of writing. Interestingly, when it comes to remasters, “Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered” currently peaks with only 549 players in a 24-hour period, which is significantly less than the original “Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition” (1,444 players). It seems that for many gamers, newer isn’t always synonymous with better.

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2025-05-26 08:26