In the realm of indie horror, Lethal Company rises as the reigning champion on Steam for the year, surpassing heavyweights like Resident Evil 4 and Baldur’s Gate 3.
Despite launching in October 2023 and entering Early Access, this spine-chilling game has swiftly captured the attention of both fans and critics, amassing an impressive 100,000 players in a short span.
Crafted by Zeekerss, Lethal Company immerses players in a first-person horror experience, tasking them with scavenging items across diverse moons to bolster profits for a massive corporation. While offering a solitary gameplay option, the essence of Lethal Company lies in its cooperative play, inviting players to collaborate through proximity chat, pooling efforts to meet objectives and amplify corporate gains.
Presently boasting an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam, Lethal Company garners heaps of praise in user reviews. While direct comparisons are tricky on Steam, data from Steamdb.info places this title at the top spot for 2023 with an impressive 97.32% rating. For context, Capcom’s Resident Evil 4, despite a similar number of reviews, holds a slightly lower overall score of 96.41% due to a higher percentage of negative player feedback.
Much of Lethal Company’s triumph stems from its glowing user reviews, solidifying its status as one of the standout horror games of 2023. Its unique blend of horror and cooperative play, coupled with a reasonable $9.99 price tag, heightens its appeal among players.
While the triumph of Lethal Company over AAA experiences might surprise some, it echoes previous instances where indie gems eclipsed big-budget titles. Reflecting on Annapurna’s Stray in 2022, the futuristic cat simulator surged in the Steam charts propelled by rave reviews and player commendations, earning nominations for multiple Game of the Year awards.
Although Lethal Company missed Game of the Year nominations, its ascent to the top of the Steam charts shortly after release is a remarkable accomplishment. Consider that this occurred in a year hosting the much-anticipated arrivals of Baldur’s Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy, and Resident Evil 4 after years of anticipation.