If you've been active on platforms like Steam, Twitch, or gaming YouTube recently, you've likely come across Schedule I, an indie drug dealer simulation game that has skyrocketed to become the top-selling title on Valve's platform. It's currently outperforming major titles such as Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals, thanks to 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 the official description:
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 developed and published by TVGS, known as Tyler, who recently shared his thoughts on Reddit about 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, Schedule I released its Post-launch Patch #4 on March 29, addressing several employee bugs and multiplayer issues.
How successful is *Schedule I*? Despite its unexpected rise, it's now the top-selling game on Steam, surpassing everything from *inZOI*—a competitor to *The Sims*—to *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*. Valve ranks its top-selling chart by revenue, indicating that *Schedule I*, despite its budget pricing, 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, securing its spot among the top 30 most-played games ever released on the platform. At the time of this article's publication, it continues to outplay Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals in terms of active players.
The community's reception to Schedule I is overwhelmingly positive. On Steam, it boasts an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating, with 98% of reviews being favorable. Here are some highlights from the community:
"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 might be seen as a meme game, its staying power remains to be seen. Regardless, developer Tyler's life has been transformed by its success, and fans can look forward to substantial content updates.
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.
