If you've been browsing Steam, Twitch, or gaming YouTube recently, you might have stumbled upon Schedule I. This indie drug dealer simulator has surged to become the top-selling game on Valve's platform, outpacing giants like Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals after going viral on social media.
Schedule I hit the market just last week and has rapidly climbed 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, also known as Tyler, who recently shared his thoughts on Reddit about Schedule I's explosive launch.
“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. Also looking forward to getting started on content updates as soon as all major bugs are patched.”
In line with his commitment, Schedule I released Post-launch Patch #4 on March 29, addressing numerous employee bugs and multiplayer issues.
So, just how successful is Schedule I? After coming out of nowhere, it’s now the top-selling game on Steam, surpassing titles like inZOI and Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve ranks its top-selling chart by revenue, indicating that Schedule I, despite its budget price, is generating more revenue than its full-priced, AAA competitors.
In terms of player engagement, Schedule I reached a peak of 414,166 concurrent players on Steam over the weekend, placing it in the top 30 most-played games ever on the platform. At the time of writing, Schedule I boasts more active players than Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals.
The game is also receiving stellar feedback from its community. On Steam, it holds an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating, with 98% of the reviews being positive. Here are a few highlights from the 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. Definitely a 10/10"
While Schedule I may be seen as a meme game, its staying power remains to be seen. However, developer Tyler has no reason to worry. His life has undoubtedly changed, and he's already planning substantial content updates.
If you're diving into Schedule I, don't miss out on IGN’s Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands guide and Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op guide for the best gaming experience.
