Gaming Industry Sees Percentage of 90+ Metascore Titles Plummet to 0.2% Amidst Exploding Releases

The video game industry is experiencing a significant shift, characterized by a massive increase in the number of games released annually, yet a notable decline in the proportion of critically acclaimed titles. This trend, described by Nabeel S. Qureshi in a recent social media post, points to an "explosion of mediocrity" within the gaming landscape.

Data from Metacritic illustrates this divergence starkly. In 1998, approximately 18.2% of games released achieved a Metascore of 90 or higher. By 2024, despite a dramatic increase in total releases, this percentage plummeted to a mere 0.2%. The overall average Metascore for all games has also steadily declined, dropping from 78.3 in 1998 to 63.7 in 2024.

The sheer volume of new titles has surged exponentially. In 1998, only 11 games met Metacritic's criteria for inclusion; by 2024, this number soared to 1,267. Platforms like Steam alone saw 15,422 games released in 2024, a significant jump from 9,204 in 2020. This proliferation is largely attributed to the increased accessibility of game development tools and the rise of digital distribution channels.

According to Qureshi, this phenomenon suggests that while it has become "easier to build games, so there are more and more games every year," the number of "highly acclaimed games per year has stayed constant or even declined slightly." This observation highlights a growing challenge for developers to stand out in an increasingly saturated market. An academic paper analyzing Steam tags noted that the global number of game releases has strongly increased, while global playtime has remained stable or even decreased, suggesting a potential disconnect between supply and sustained player engagement.

The ease of entry into game development, coupled with digital storefronts, has fostered a vibrant indie scene but also contributed to market saturation. This environment makes it challenging for even well-crafted games to gain visibility and critical attention. The industry faces the task of balancing rapid production with the sustained quality and innovation that captivates audiences and critics alike.