It’s always exciting to discover hidden gems on Steam; games that aren't part of huge, well-known franchises but still manage to catch the attention of players, and Schedule 1 is the newest to make it big. Games like Lethal Company and Escape the Backrooms have shown that indie games can become hugely popular, even without big marketing campaigns. These smaller titles often offer something fresh and exciting, and they’re a lot of fun to play.

Now, in 2025, Schedule 1 is a new indie game that's taken Steam by surprise. Created by just one developer, it’s not part of a big franchise or studio, yet it’s gaining a lot of attention. This success shows how small, independent games can stand out, and the game might just be fun enough to make ing in on the hype worthwhile.

Schedule 1 Is A Viral Hit On Steam

The Latest Viral Sensation On Steam Is Doing Extremely Well

It only takes a glance at Schedule 1's Steam page to see the extent of its virality. With nearly 50,000 reviews at the time of writing, 98% of which are positive, Schedule 1 has handily outdone plenty of AAA releases. SteamDB charts an all-time peak of 414,166 concurrent players, with even the lowest dips in player counts remaining consistently above 100,000 in the past several days. It’s not a big-budget AAA game like Elden Ring or Call of Duty, but that hasn’t stopped it from being a fan favorite.

Despite being in early access, Schedule 1 offers an impressive amount of content and gameplay variety. Taking on the unusual gameplay subject of drug dealing, the gameplay mixes strategy, action, and management, making it interesting for players who enjoy different types of challenges.

What Kind of Game is Schedule 1?

Grow Your Drug Empire And Rise To The Top

Schedule 1 is an open-world simulation game where you play as a small-time drug dealer trying to grow your empire. You start with nothing; no money, no product, and no connections, and you have to build your way up. Set in the fictional city of Hyland Point, the game mixes resource management, exploration, and action.

The main part of the game involves producing and distributing drugs. Each drug has its own production process, and as you progress, you can discover special recipes to create new drugs with unique properties. The game also lets you choose how you want to get the drugs to customers. You can walk, skate, or drive around the city to deliver your products. You can also change your clothes to suit your unique personality or to blend in with others around you.

However, running a drug empire is dangerous. You’ll need to deal with law enforcement, rival cartels, and other threats. You can fight back with melee weapons, guns, or even your fists. Managing your empire is just as important as surviving, so you’ll also need to hire employees, hire more dealers, and manage the logistics of your business.

You’ll also eventually have to work your way up to better drugs, which means getting your hands on better tools and need somewhere to keep it. The game even offers co-op multiplayer, so you and friends can work together to build your empire. This adds another layer of fun, as you can team up with others to expand your business and face even bigger challenges.

You Can Get Schedule 1 For Just $20 In Early Access

Schedule 1 Is Inexpensive For The Content It Has

Schedule 1 is available for just $20 on Steam, and it offers a lot of content for the price. However, it's important to that the game is still in early access. This means it’s not finished, and there may be some bugs or glitches. Early access games are still being worked on, and ideally, they feature frequent update releases to improve the game.

Schedule 1 developer TVGS has promised monthly updates with new content and fixes. TVGS also wants to involve the community in the development, so players can give and suggest changes. This is a good sign that the game will continue to improve and grow over the course of its "approximately 2 years" of planned early access.

Even though Schedule 1 is still in development, it’s already a lot of fun to play. For just $20, you get an open-world game with plenty of freedom, action, and strategy. If you’re okay with dealing with some bugs and unfinished features, this is a great deal. The game has a lot of potential, and the developer is committed to making it even better in the future. If you’re a fan of open-world games and want to try something different, Schedule 1 is definitely worth checking out.

Source: Steam, SteamDB