Indie Drug Dealer Sim 'Schedule I' Outselling GTA 5, Monster Hunter Wilds on Steam

If you've been active on platforms like Steam, Twitch, or gaming YouTube recently, chances are you've come across Schedule I. This indie drug dealer simulator has skyrocketed to become the top-selling game on Valve’s platform, surpassing major titles such as Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals following its viral spread across social media.

Schedule I hit the market just last week and has swiftly climbed to the top of Valve's best-selling and most-played charts. Here's what the game's official description promises:

From small-time dope pusher to kingpin - manufacture and distribute a range of drugs throughout the grungy city of Hyland Point. Expand your empire with properties, businesses, employees, and more.

The game is both developed and published by TVGS, known as Tyler, who shared his thoughts on the game's explosive launch on Reddit.

“Honestly, it’s amazing but pretty overwhelming,” Tyler remarked. “I never expected this kind of response! At the moment, I’m just trying to stay focused and get patches out ASAP. I’m also looking forward to starting on content updates as soon as all major bugs are patched.”

Following this, Schedule I released its Post-launch Patch #4 on March 29, addressing several employee bugs and multiplayer issues.

So, just how successful is Schedule I? Emerging from obscurity, it has claimed the top spot on Steam's sales chart, beating out everything from the The Sims rival inZOI to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve ranks its top-selling chart by revenue, indicating that the budget-priced Schedule I is generating more income than its full-price, triple-A competitors.

In terms of player engagement, Schedule I reached a peak of 414,166 concurrent players on Steam over the weekend, placing it among the top 30 most-played games ever on the platform. At the time of writing, it continues to outperform Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals in player numbers.

Players are not only flocking to Schedule I but also loving it. On Steam, the game boasts an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating, with 98% of reviews being positive. Here’s a glimpse of what players are saying:

"A woman came up to me and asked for weed, didn't like the price I offered, proceeded to stab me with a broken glass bottle. 10/10"

"Love this game."

"I was dealing drugs in an RV and it blew up."

"Got a motel and sold some weed."

"Created a meth empire."

"Then hopped on the game."

"Really great and hilarious game. Fun game loop and hilarious fun when playing with friends. I know it is in early access but I'd like the police to be a bit more active (They could search your place, look for you even after escaping, run speed greater than the players) as well as gang warfare and a larger map. Still, in its current state, it's brilliant. Defo a 10/10."

While Schedule I may be seen as a meme game, its future longevity remains uncertain. However, for developer Tyler, the impact on their life is undeniable, and substantial content updates are on the horizon.

If you're diving into Schedule I, make sure to check out IGN's Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands guide, as well as the Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op guide.