According to Newzoo, games outside the Top 20 contribute to over half of the PC revenue
Newzoo data indicates that games not featured in the Top 20 are gaining momentum concerning revenue and playtime across Western markets.
The company's annual PC & Console Gaming Report reveals that games outside the elite rankings are securing a more substantial role on major platforms.
From 2022 to 2025, PC games outside the Top 20 increased revenue share to 56%, and playtime surged to 45%. This uptrend was especially prominent with premium and older titles in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
"The tier below the Top 20 is becoming more economically significant," commented Newzoo's market analysis manager, Tianyi Gu, noting the rising relevance of these games.
While shooter games saw a dip, the genres of action RPGs and survival games experienced notable gains. Popular games such as Path of Exile 2, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 are among those gaining attention, alongside enduring titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, and Skyrim.
Titles like Rust, Day Z, Dead by Daylight, and Red Dead Redemption 2 continue to captivate adventure game enthusiasts, as does R.E.P.O., which debuted last year.
On consoles, major franchises still command the majority of consumer spending, predominantly among the Top 20 titles.
Titles ranked lower accounted for 38% of PlayStation revenue in 2025, an increase from 33% in 2022, with playtime seeing a notable rise of 32%.
Much of the playtime on PlayStation is driven by first-party action-adventure titles, including God of War Ragnarök, Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and The Last of Us Part 2. The platform is heavily influenced by adventure and RPG genres.
On Xbox, titles not in the Top 20 enjoyed a 12% increase in playtime, although they contributed to just 35% of revenue in 2025. This suggests that Game Pass subscriptions are boosting playtime numbers.
RPG and adventure games hold popularity on Xbox, with Newzoo pointing out that Game Pass provides increased exposure and trial opportunities for many titles.