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-centric YouTube channels recently, chances are you've come across Schedule I. This indie drug dealer simulation game has skyrocketed to become the top-selling title on Valve’s platform, surpassing even major hits like Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals after going viral on social media.

Schedule I hit the market just last week and quickly climbed to the top of Valve’s best-selling and most-played charts. Here’s what the game is all about:

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 the brainchild of TVGS, known as Tyler, who recently took to Reddit to express his astonishment at Schedule I's explosive launch:

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

In line with this commitment, Schedule I's Post-launch Patch #4 was released on March 29, addressing several employee bugs and multiplayer issues.

But just how successful is Schedule I? Emerging from obscurity, it now holds the coveted position of top-selling game on Steam, outpacing titles ranging from the The Sims competitor inZOI to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve ranks its top-selling chart by revenue, indicating that Schedule I, despite its budget-friendly price, is generating more income than its full-priced, 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 boasts more players than Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals.

The community's response has been overwhelmingly positive, with Schedule I earning an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating on Steam, with 98% of reviews being positive. Here are some of the user reviews:

"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"

Schedule I may be categorized as a meme game, but its longevity remains to be seen. Regardless, developer Tyler's life has undoubtedly been transformed, and significant content updates are on the horizon.

If you're diving into Schedule I, don't miss IGN's guides on Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands, and Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op to enhance your gaming experience.