Launch Week Checker
Drop in your Steam page and see in seconds how crowded each of the next 12 weeks is with games like yours, and who you'd be up against.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Results in seconds
How it works
Only the games that matter
A week packed with strategy games won't hurt your cosy farming sim. We only count the games your players would actually compare you with.
Big launches count big
A hyped game with a huge following casts a longer shadow than a tiny one, and a confirmed date matters more than a vague "coming soon".
Steam events on the calendar
Next Fest and the big seasonal sales are marked, so you never launch into a storm by accident.
What makes a good week to launch on Steam
A good launch week is one where your game gets room to be seen. The games that matter most are the ones like yours: a player choosing a cosy farming sim isn't weighing it against a space shooter, so a busy week in another genre can still be a quiet one for you.
Size matters too. One big, hyped launch in your genre can draw attention away from everything around it, while a handful of small releases barely make a ripple. A game with a firm date is a real rival for that week; a vague "coming soon" might land anywhere.
Then there's Steam's own calendar. Next Fest fills the store with demos and the big seasonal sales put discounts in the spotlight, so many developers plan their launch around them. Put all of that together and the quiet weeks stand out, which is exactly what the checker shows you.
Good to know
Quick answers, so you can get straight to the good part.
Our help centre has friendly answers about every tool, and our team is one message away.
Visit the help centreWhen is the best time to release a game on Steam?
When few games like yours launch at the same time, away from the crowds of the big seasonal sales and Next Fest, and with enough time before launch to gather wishlists. There is no single best week for every game: it depends on who you're up against. The checker shows you which of the next 12 weeks are quiet for a game like yours.
Should I launch during Steam Next Fest or a Steam sale?
Usually it pays to plan around them. During Next Fest players are busy trying hundreds of demos, and during the big seasonal sales the spotlight is on discounts, so a brand-new game can get lost in the noise. Many developers show a demo at Next Fest to gather wishlists, then launch in a calmer week. The checker marks these events, so you see them coming.
My release date isn't final yet. Can I still use it?
Yes, that's the best time to use it. Paste your store page, even if it still says "coming soon", and you'll see how each week looks for a game like yours, so you can pick your date with confidence.
Which games count as rivals?
The games your players would actually compare you with: the ones that share your Steam tags and lean on them the way yours does. A week full of games in other genres stays quiet for you.
Is it really free?
Yes. No sign-up, no card. With a free account you can keep your rivals in one place and get a weekly briefing on their moves, and paid plans look up to a year ahead with instant alerts.