It has been exactly 33 months since Baldur's Gate 3 changed the RPG landscape, and its impact on the handheld market is undeniable. Since its release, the game has rarely fallen out of the top five most-played titles on Steam Deck. In fact, Larian Studios' masterpiece has only exited the top five in just four of those months, never once dropping out of the top ten.

A Record-Breaking Run on Handheld

Examining historical data from Valve’s public rankings reveals some staggering statistics regarding the game's longevity. While players often look to recent hits for dominance, Baldur's Gate 3 set a massive precedent early in its lifecycle.

The data highlights several impressive milestones:

  • The game held the #1 most-played spot for six consecutive months following launch—a record only recently surpassed by Balatro at seven months.
  • Stardew Valley remains a heavy hitter, securing four nonconsecutive months at the top of the charts.
  • After its initial launch, the game maintained a top-five position for two straight years.
  • The lowest ranking the game has reached was number eight last October.

Performance vs. Popularity on Steam Deck

Interestingly, Baldur's Gate 3 isn't necessarily considered a "perfect" handheld experience. The game can be taxing on the device's APU and is known to drain battery life quickly. At launch, frame rates often hovered between 20-30fps, which is a compromise many players accept because of the game's nature.

Because it is a turn-based RPG, lower framerates are far less punishing than they would be in a fast-paced shooter. Combined with excellent controller support and a native Linux port, the game remains a staple for handheld enthusiasts who simply cannot get enough of the experience.

Monthly Rankings Breakdown

The following data tracks the placement of Baldur's Gate 3 in the most-played monthly lists since its release:

2023 (Overall: Unordered top 12)

  • August: #1
  • September: #1
  • October: #1
  • November: #1
  • December: #1

2024 (Overall: #4)

  • January: #1
  • February: #2
  • March: #4
  • April: #4
  • May: #5
  • June: #5
  • July: #4
  • August: #3
  • September: #2
  • October: #2
  • November: #4
  • December: #5

2025 (Overall: #4)

  • January: #3
  • February: #3
  • March: #3
  • April: #3
  • May: #2
  • June: #4
  • July: #4
  • August: #6
  • September: #7
  • October: #8
  • November: #7
  • December: #4

2026 (Avg. #4 so far)

  • January: #3
  • February: #4
  • March: #5
  • April: #4