The deluge of video games released each year presents a significant challenge for both developers and players. With platforms like Steam, the dominant force in PC gaming, seeing nearly 19,000 new releases in a single year, the sheer volume makes it increasingly difficult for quality titles, especially those from smaller studios, to gain visibility. This overcrowded marketplace is further complicated by the prevalence of “shovelware,” cheaply made games often assembled from pre-existing assets and designed for quick profit rather than artistic merit. While big-budget titles enjoy prominent placement on platform storefronts, smaller, independently developed games struggle to be discovered amidst the flood of new releases.
Steam has attempted to address the issue of low-quality games through its “limited” status feature. This feature restricts certain functionalities, such as achievements and trading cards, for games with low player counts. While intended to curb the impact of shovelware, the implementation has inadvertently affected many legitimate, albeit smaller, games. Data suggests that nearly 80% of games released on Steam in a given year receive this “limited” status, leading some to erroneously equate this figure with the percentage of shovelware on the platform. This oversimplification fails to account for the numerous smaller, well-made games that, due to limited marketing and discoverability, simply don’t reach a large player base.
The case of Ratalaika Games, a publisher specializing in budget titles from smaller developers, often solo projects, illustrates this point. While the quality of Ratalaika’s offerings varies, their catalog includes several hidden gems. However, a vast majority of their games on Steam carry the “limited” status, not due to poor quality, but rather due to the inherent difficulty smaller titles face in attracting a large audience. This demonstrates how the “limited” status, while potentially useful in identifying some shovelware, can also unfairly penalize smaller developers who create worthwhile games that simply don’t achieve widespread popularity.
Conversely, the “limited” status doesn’t always accurately reflect a game’s quality. Some simplistic, even viral, games with minimal gameplay can achieve significant player counts, thus avoiding the “limited” designation. The example of “Banana,” a game centered around repeatedly clicking a banana, illustrates this anomaly. This disparity highlights the limitations of relying solely on player count as a metric for quality control. The complex relationship between player numbers, game quality, and discoverability underscores the need for more nuanced approaches to curating and showcasing games on digital platforms.
The current system, largely reliant on algorithms and player metrics, fails to adequately address the issue of discoverability for smaller developers. The lack of human curation allows shovelware to proliferate while simultaneously hindering the visibility of genuinely creative and engaging games from smaller teams. The reliance on player counts as a primary metric further exacerbates this problem, as it inherently favors established titles and viral trends, leaving smaller games, regardless of quality, struggling to gain traction. This creates a self-perpetuating cycle where smaller games are less likely to be discovered, thus leading to lower player counts and further limiting their visibility.
Ultimately, a more effective solution requires a multifaceted approach. While automated systems can play a role in filtering out blatantly low-quality content, the inclusion of human curation is crucial for highlighting deserving indie titles that might otherwise be lost in the digital deluge. This could involve curated lists, editorial recommendations, and perhaps even dedicated sections of the platform storefront showcasing smaller, independent games. By incorporating human expertise alongside algorithmic sorting, platforms like Steam can create a more balanced ecosystem that rewards quality and creativity, giving players a better chance to discover hidden gems and offering smaller developers a fairer opportunity to reach their audience.
