If you've been browsing Steam, Twitch, or gaming YouTube recently, you've likely come across Schedule I, an indie drug dealer simulation that's skyrocketed to become the top-selling game on Valve's platform. This viral sensation has outpaced major titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals, drawing in a massive player base.

Launched just last week, Schedule I has quickly ascended Valve's charts for best-selling and most-played games. 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 both developed and published by TVGS, known as Tyler, who recently took to Reddit to share his thoughts on the game'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. I’m also looking forward to starting on content updates as soon as all major bugs are patched.”

In line with this, Schedule I's Post-launch Patch #4 was released on March 29, addressing several employee bugs and multiplayer issues.

So, just how successful is Schedule I? From an unexpected debut, it has claimed the top spot on Steam's best-selling list, surpassing everything from The Sims competitor inZOI to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve ranks its top-selling chart by revenue, indicating that the budget-priced Schedule I is generating more income than its full-priced, triple-A competitors.

In terms of player engagement, Schedule I reached a peak of 414,166 concurrent players on Steam over the weekend, placing it among the top 30 most-played games ever on the platform. Currently, it boasts more players than Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals.

The community's reception to Schedule I has been overwhelmingly positive, earning it an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating on Steam, with 98% of 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. Defo a 10/10."

While Schedule I is undeniably a meme game, its long-term viability remains to be seen. Nonetheless, developer Tyler's life has been transformed by this success, and significant content updates are on the horizon.

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.