Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Join our monthly RPG Club
  • Golden Joystick Awards 2026
  • Deal of the Day
  • Countdown to GTA 6
  • G+RLS Podcast
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
  • RPG Hub
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Simulation Games

Stardew Valley is now Steam's top-rated game, with the farming sim dethroning Portal 2 after 14 years at the top

News
By Scott McCrae
Published 8 July 2025

Terraria hangs strong at number 3, while Schedule 1 has already appeared in the top 10 above the original Portal

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Stardew Valley
(Image credit: ConcernedApe)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Portal 2 has been unseated from its throne as the best-rated game on Steam after 14 years, with Stardew Valley taking the crown.

Ever since Portal 2 was first released back in 2011, it's been heralded as a classic. Valve's first person puzzle game would turn out to be the last single-player focused release until Half-Life: Alyx released almost a decade later. Naturally, being arguably the best Valve game would make you a contender for the best game on Valve's own storefront, and Portal 2 held the title of the best rated Steam game from June 2, 2011 – around a month and a half after it launched.

However, 14 years later, Portal 2 has finally been dethroned as the best Steam game when it comes to player ratings, as ConcernedApe's Stardew Valley – probably the best farming game of all time – has taken down Valve's own game.

Latest Videos FromGamesRadar+
Watch full video here:

According to Steam250 which curates the ranking (highlighted by LambdaGeneration on Twitter), Stardew Valley has a score of 8.87 with a 98% positive rating across 889,309 reviews, while Portal 2 is sitting at 8.85 with a 99% positive rating across 436,510 reviews. Considering Stardew Valley is among the best-selling games ever made, sitting at 41 million copies sold, it's pretty impressive that it's so overwhelmingly beloved by that many players.

Rounding out the top five is the ever-enduring Terraria (which has almost one million more reviews than Portal 2), People Playground, and Valve's Left 4 Dead 2. Plus the original Portal isn't too far behind, being the 10th best rated Steam game of all time. Perhaps the most impressive stat is Schedule 1, which is mere months old and has already cracked the top 10 at number nine.

You may like
  • Palworld 1.0 cinematic trailer screenshot shows a woman with red hair looking off into the distance. More than half of Steam's top 10 best-rated 2026 releases are early access graduates
  • Ciri in The Witcher 3 Remastered. The 25 best Steam games to play right now
  • Palworld creatures opening gifts Palworld being best-reviewed Steam game of 2026 is "nothing short of miraculous" says Pocketpair dev

Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe says the "world of Haunted Chocolatier" will somehow be even "larger" than his farming sim – the same one I already have over 1,000 hours in.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
TOPICS
Valve
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Platforms
PRODUCTS
Stardew Valley Portal 2
Scott McCrae
Scott McCrae
Social Links Navigation
Contributor

Scott has been freelancing for over four years across a number of different gaming publications, first appearing on GamesRadar+ in 2024. He has also written for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, VG247, Play, TechRadar, and others. He's typically rambling about Metal Gear Solid, God Hand, or any other PS2-era titles that rarely (if ever) get sequels.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Palworld 1.0 cinematic trailer screenshot shows a woman with red hair looking off into the distance.
Games More than half of Steam's top 10 best-rated 2026 releases are early access graduates
 
 
Ciri in The Witcher 3 Remastered.
Games The 25 best Steam games to play right now
 
 
Palworld creatures opening gifts
Survival Games Palworld being best-reviewed Steam game of 2026 is "nothing short of miraculous" says Pocketpair dev
 
 
Steam Deck review
Games The best Steam Deck games to play right now
 
 
Gabe Newell in a white shirt
Games Behold, "the whole story of Steam's economy in one picture": top 1% of games earn 84.5% of sales
 
 
Story of Seasons
Simulation Games Farming sim series that inspired Stardew Valley gets new game and another JRPG spin-off
 
 
Latest in Simulation Games
Press shot for Kukirin Life codes showing two players performing wheelies on e-scooters while being chased by several police cars
Simulation Games Kukirin Life codes (October 2026) and how to redeem them for free Crates and Cash
 
 
A Stardew Valley character
Simulation Games Eric Barone says "no one" is playing Haunted Chocolatier until he's ready
 
 
RimWorld
Simulation Games RimWorld devs are "working on something new" after 13 years of the space construction sim
 
 
A friendly ghost behind the chocolate counter in Haunted Chocolatier
Simulation Games Stardew Valley creator is "struggling" with Haunted Chocolatier thanks to the precedent he accidentally set himself
 
 
Haunted Chocolatier
Simulation Games Haunted Chocolatier is for the Stardew Valley players who yearn for the mines, ConcernedApe says
 
 
A cast of cel-shaded characters looks hopefully over the horizon with pet companions in toe
Simulation Games My new cozy obsession is a Lord of the Rings-inspired Animal Crossing riff blowing up on Kickstarter
 
 
Latest in News
How to enter GTA 5 cheats
Grand Theft Auto After avoiding GTA 5 for 13 years, Trevor actor says he's excited for GTA 6 and might even stream it
 
 
A man is shot in Wardogs
FPS Games Wardogs is getting loadouts, CEO confirms, but the devs want you to "keep trying" new builds
 
 
Refund This Game screenshot showing orange flag on a checkered orb
Platforming Games After Valve was criticized, devs back Steam's refund policy by creating 2-hour game Refund This Game
 
 
An anime girl raises her hands in Ame Nochi Hare Onna
Pokemon Pokemon lead is making an "original" RPG where you wash your outfits and let them dry in real time
 
 
Arc Raiders character in blue motorcycle helmet with black visor and mask
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders devs had the same debates as players over PvE, but "dad gamers" pushed them to try it
 
 
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing Astarion, a pale male elf with short curly white hair and red eyes, looking over his shoulder with a smirk on his face
RPGs Fallout co-creator worries RPGs are ditching secrets because "nobody thinks people will find things"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. "Quality of life features are useful, but they can get in the way of vital learning"
    1
    Wardogs is getting loadouts, CEO confirms, but the devs want you to "keep trying" new builds
  2. 2
    Pokemon lead is making an "original" RPG where you wash your outfits and let them dry in real time
  3. 3
    After Valve was criticized, devs back Steam's refund policy by creating 2-hour game Refund This Game
  4. 4
    Arc Raiders devs had the same debates as players over PvE, but "dad gamers" pushed them to try it
  5. 5
    Fallout co-creator worries RPGs are ditching secrets because "nobody thinks people will find things"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...