The highest-rated Steam game of the year isn’t a triple-A blockbuster: it’sSchedule I, the drug-dealing simulator by solo dev TVGS. InSchedule I, players are given all the tools they need to create their own empires: from manufacturing machines to hirable assistants to a town full of willing customers. It’s up to them how they play it, what substances they choose to whip up, and how they sell them - but no matter what, chaos and hilarity are sure to ensue.
It’s been a landmark year for gaming: tons of massive, big-budget titles have hit the market, while many smaller, indie underdogs have become unexpected overnight successes. While player responses have been as varied and unpredictable as ever, they’re especially positive when it comes toSchedule I, which speaks volumes about popular tastes.
Schedule 1 Has Beaten Out Lots Of Great Games For Steam’s Top Spot
Steam’s Top-Rated Game Of The Year So Far
According toSteamDB,Schedule Iis the highest-rated game of 2025 on Steam, with a 97.15% positive rating. It’s followed closely by another indie game, albeit one with a bit more of a pedigree:Deltarune, theUndertalespinoff that came to Steam earlier this summer, with a 96.83% positive rating.
Schedule Iis made entirely by solo developer TVGS - Tyler’s Video Game Studio - along with composer Kaesul and graffiti artist Cody To. Relatively little is known about Tyler, butSchedule Iis his first project, and he’s been vocal on social media about developing it.He’s constantly sharing updatesabout what’s coming to the game next, and I’m surethis transparency - along with a steady stream of new content - is part of what’s keptSchedule I’s rating so high.
Still,it’s a little surprising to seeSchedule Ibeat out bigger-name, bigger-budget competitorsfor the top spot onSteam.Split Fiction, the latest co-op title from Josef Fares, takes the number four spot on the list, with 95.89% positive reviews.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which many have already pointed to asan early Game of the Year contender, comes in ninth, with 94.67%.
But still, it almost feels wrong to callClair Obscura big game - it’s also developed by a small team, although its bigger budget and triple-A feel make it look like less of an underdog. The fact of the matter is thatsmaller, mostly indie games absolutely dominate SteamDB’s top ten chart, and that’s a wonderful thing to see.
Schedule 1 Proves A Big Budget Doesn’t Make A Great Game
Vision, Community, & Transparency Are Key
Ultimately, it just goes to show thatplayers don’t always want massive, big-budget games- especially not on PC. Realistic graphics, all-star voice casts, and series pedigree alone don’t garner good player reviews.
What’s really key isa developer with a unique vision: whether that’s Toby Fox’s pastiche of classic RPG tropes; Guillaume Broche’s desire for a modern, triple-A turn-based game; or Tyler’s desire to create an absurd, yet unexpectedly deep simulation of the illegal drug trade.
Gameplay is also vitally important: you’ll note that most of these top-ten-rated games are known for the complexity, depth, addictiveness, or sheer fun of their gameplay. WithSchedule I,multiplayer is especially key. It’s part of an emergent genre of co-op multiplayer games that require players to delegate tasks, and usually involves some degree of overall absurdity. The category was recently dubbed “friendslop,” largely because it seems like a new one comes out every month - seePeak’s astronomical player countsin recent days.
Personally, I have a lot of patience for games like this - even if you only play them once, they tend to be very modestly priced, so it’s no great loss. ButSchedule I’s regular updates have given it much longer legs. Itsdevelopers have shown unparalleled transparency and willingness to engagewith the fan community, which is no small part of what’s kept player reviews positive.
Since TVGS is so honest about when updates are coming and what’s included, players are less inclined to leave bad reviews because they encountered a game-breaking bug, or ran out of content before they felt they got their money’s worth.Schedule Ieven lets players voteon what the developers should prioritize in future updates. This is not totally unprecedented, but it’s a great way to keep your player base loyal and engaged. Plus,its relatively low pricedefinitely can’t hurt - with frequent content updates, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck.
So really, it’s no surprise thatSchedule Iis such a success. It may not have much of a pedigree behind it, but it’s a good game, it’s updated regularly, and it does right by its players.ScheduleIhas definitely earned its place as the best-rated game of 2025 on Steam, and I’d be surprised if anything managed to dethrone it.
