By Sagar V. Mankar 
The popular open-world survival-crafting game The Forest has achieved a new milestone on Steam, setting a record for concurrent players six years after its initial release in 2018. According to data from SteamDB, on December 28th, the game reached an impressive peak of over 109,397 concurrent players. This achievement shattered the previous record of 78,000 players, which was set in October 2023.
The surge in player numbers can largely be attributed to the ongoing Steam Winter Sale, where The Forest is currently available at a massive 90% discount. At the time of writing, the game costs just $2, making it an irresistible deal for both new players and returning fans.
This discount-driven momentum has been nothing short of extraordinary. On December 19th, the game had around 10,000 concurrent players. Just a day later, that number skyrocketed to over 60,000, and it has continued to climb steadily ever since, eventually breaking all previous concurrent player records.
In addition to the impressive player count, The Forest has seen a surge in community engagement. The game has garnered nearly 13,000 recent reviews, with an outstanding 94% of them being categorized as “overwhelmingly positive.”
For those unfamiliar with The Forest, the game throws players into a mysterious and terrifying woodland environment. After surviving a plane crash, players must battle hunger, weather conditions, and, most frighteningly, a society of cannibalistic mutants. The game can be played solo or in multiplayer co-op mode, making it a versatile experience whether you prefer braving the horrors alone or with friends. Besides Steams, it is also available on PS4 and on PS5 via backward compatibility.
Additionally, fans of The Forest might also be interested in its sequel, Sons of the Forest. Released in February 2023 early access, the sequel has already built its own dedicated fanbase. It’s currently available on PC via Steam at a 50% discount.
Source: SteamDB