If you've been browsing Steam, Twitch, or gaming YouTube recently, you've likely come across Schedule I, an indie drug dealer simulation game that has skyrocketed to become the top-selling game on Valve's platform. It's outpacing major titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals, thanks to its viral spread across social media.

Schedule I was launched last week and swiftly climbed the ranks to become one of Valve's 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 said. “I never expected this kind of response! At the moment, I’m just trying to stay focused and get patches out ASAP. Also, I'm looking forward to getting started on content updates as soon as all major bugs are patched.”

To address some issues, Schedule I’s Post-launch Patch #4 was released on March 29, tackling a number of employee bugs and multiplayer issues.

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. At the time of writing, it boasts more players than Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals.

Players are also thoroughly enjoying Schedule I, as evidenced by its 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating on Steam, with 98% of reviews being positive. Here are a few highlights from user feedback:

"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 might be categorized as a meme game, its future sustainability remains to be seen. However, developer Tyler is undoubtedly thrilled, as this success has transformed his life, and he is committed to delivering substantial content updates.

If you're diving into Schedule I, don't miss IGN's Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands guide and Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op guide.