Natural Selection 2 Player Count: Is It Dead?

Natural Selection 2

Steam app 4920

Natural Selection 2

Unknown Worlds EntertainmentSep 1, 2012Action, Indie, Strategy

$4.99 Very PositiveSteam Deck Playable
  • Multiplayer
  • Strategy
  • FPS
  • Team-Based
  • Action
  • Sci-fi
  • RTS
  • Aliens
  • Indie
  • Competitive
Playing now
78
Updated 7 minutes ago
24-hour peak
159
Last 24 hours
All-time peak
9,510
Mar 24, 2013
Avg this month
76
+18.75% vs last month
Steam reviews
85%
Very Positive

Data source: Steam Web APILast updated: How we collect this data

Natural Selection 2 player count chart

Natural Selection 2 has a small but active player base. 78 people are playing it on Steam right now. Over the last 30 days its player count has been stable (up 4% on the month before).

History from Sep 1, 2012

Natural Selection 2 monthly player count

MonthAvg. playersGain% GainPeak players
November 202676+12+18.75%178
October 202664+1+1.59%161
September 202663-10-6.02%156
August 2026not enough data-45-21.33%166
July 2026not enough data+23+12.23%211
June 2026not enough data-17-8.29%188
May 2026not enough data+31+17.82%205
April 2026not enough data-15-7.94%174
March 2026not enough data-36-16%189
February 2026not enough data-31-12.11%225
January 2026not enough data+48+23.08%256
December 2025not enough data+5+2.46%208
November 2025not enough data-19-8.56%203
October 2025not enough data+26+13.27%222
September 2025not enough data+7+3.7%196
August 2025not enough data-25-11.68%189
July 2025not enough data-11-4.89%214
June 2025not enough data+8+3.69%225
May 2025not enough data-9-3.98%217
April 2025not enough data-1-0.44%226
March 2025not enough data+3+1.34%227
February 2025not enough data-11-4.68%224
January 2025not enough data+38+19.29%235
December 2024not enough data-18-8.37%197
November 2024not enough data-26-10.79%215
October 2024not enough data+26+12.09%241
September 2024not enough data-28-11.52%215
August 2024not enough data+15+6.58%243
July 2024not enough data+26+12.87%228
June 2024not enough data-29-12.55%202
May 2024not enough data+6+2.67%231
April 2024not enough data-41-15.41%225
March 2024not enough data-6-2.21%266
February 2024not enough data+3+1.12%272
January 2024not enough data+24+9.8%269
December 2023not enough data-9-3.54%245
November 2023not enough data+8+3.25%254
October 2023not enough data+19+8.37%246
September 2023not enough data-10-4.22%227
August 2023not enough data-43-15.36%237
July 2023not enough data-2-0.71%280
June 2023not enough data-48-14.55%282
May 2023not enough data+62+23.13%330
April 2023not enough data+8+3.08%268
March 2023not enough data-37-12.46%260
February 2023not enough data-18-5.71%297
January 2023not enough data+15+5%315
December 2022not enough data+68+29.31%300
November 2022not enough data-70-23.18%232
October 2022not enough data-13-4.13%302
September 2022not enough data+7+2.27%315
August 2022not enough data+1+0.33%308
July 2022not enough data-11-3.46%307
June 2022not enough data+50+18.66%318
May 2022not enough data-32-10.67%268
April 2022not enough data+18+6.38%300
March 2022not enough data-85-23.16%282
February 2022not enough data-57-13.44%367
January 2022not enough data+90+26.95%424
December 2021not enough data+52+18.44%334
November 2021not enough data+9+3.3%282
October 2021not enough data-21-7.14%273
September 2021not enough data-12-3.92%294
August 2021not enough data-149-32.75%306
July 2021not enough data+151+49.67%455
June 2021not enough data-5-1.62%304
May 2021not enough data-18-5.5%309
April 2021not enough data-10-2.97%327
March 2021not enough data-26-7.16%337
February 2021not enough data-145-28.54%363
January 2021not enough data+102+25.12%508
December 2020not enough data-12-2.87%406
November 2020not enough data+85+25.53%418
October 2020not enough data-12-3.48%333
September 2020not enough data+0+0%345
August 2020not enough data-104-23.16%345
July 2020not enough data+30+7.16%449
June 2020not enough data+36+9.4%419
May 2020not enough data-38-9.03%383
April 2020not enough data+19+4.73%421
March 2020not enough data+22+5.79%402
February 2020not enough data-14-3.55%380
January 2020not enough data+13+3.41%394
December 2019not enough data-3-0.78%381
November 2019not enough data+22+6.08%384
October 2019not enough data-45-11.06%362
September 2019not enough data+65+19.01%407
August 2019not enough data-30-8.06%342
July 2019not enough data-83-18.24%372
June 2019not enough data-379-45.44%455
May 2019not enough data+88+11.8%834
April 2019not enough data+334+81.07%746
March 2019not enough data-80-16.26%412
February 2019not enough data-44-8.21%492
January 2019not enough data+59+12.37%536
December 2018not enough data+29+6.47%477
November 2018not enough data+46+11.44%448
October 2018not enough data-1-0.25%402
September 2018not enough data+57+16.47%403
August 2018not enough data-184-34.72%346
July 2018not enough data-8-1.49%530
June 2018not enough data+169+45.8%538
May 2018not enough data-43-10.44%369
April 2018not enough data-21-4.85%412
March 2018not enough data-55-11.27%433
February 2018not enough data+11+2.31%488
January 2018not enough data+31+6.95%477
December 2017not enough data-40-8.23%446
November 2017not enough data-11-2.21%486
October 2017not enough data+95+23.63%497
September 2017not enough data-5-1.23%402
August 2017not enough data-62-13.22%407
July 2017not enough data-48-9.28%469
June 2017not enough data+10+1.97%517
May 2017not enough data+21+4.32%507
April 2017not enough data-33-6.36%486
March 2017not enough data-40-7.16%519
February 2017not enough data+21+3.9%559
January 2017not enough data+57+11.85%538
December 2016not enough data-20-3.99%481
November 2016not enough data-224-30.9%501
October 2016not enough data+260+55.91%725
September 2016not enough data+30+6.9%465
August 2016not enough data-41-8.61%435
July 2016not enough data-124-20.67%476
June 2016not enough data+5+0.84%600
May 2016not enough data-10-1.65%595
April 2016not enough data-36-5.62%605
March 2016not enough data-91-12.43%641
February 2016not enough data-172-19.03%732
January 2016not enough data+300+49.67%904
December 2015not enough data-12-1.95%604
November 2015not enough data+140+29.41%616
October 2015not enough data+60+14.42%476
September 2015not enough data-82-16.47%416
August 2015not enough data+52+11.66%498
July 2015not enough data-74-14.23%446
June 2015not enough data+4+0.78%520
May 2015not enough data-48-8.51%516
April 2015not enough data-47-7.69%564
March 2015not enough data-123-16.76%611
February 2015not enough data-208-22.08%734
January 2015not enough data-214-18.51%942
December 2014not enough data-150-11.49%1,156
November 2014not enough data+640+96.1%1,306
October 2014not enough data-549-45.19%666
September 2014not enough data+470+63.09%1,215
August 2014not enough data-165-18.13%745
July 2014not enough data-992-52.16%910
June 2014not enough data+864+83.24%1,902
May 2014not enough data-175-14.43%1,038
April 2014not enough data-74-5.75%1,213
March 2014not enough data-226-14.94%1,287
February 2014not enough data-4,496-74.82%1,513
January 2014not enough data+2,855+90.52%6,009
December 2013not enough data+1,437+83.69%3,154
November 2013not enough data+494+40.39%1,717
October 2013not enough data-5,784-82.55%1,223
September 2013not enough data+650+10.22%7,007
August 2013not enough data+2,851+81.32%6,357
July 2013not enough data+496+16.48%3,506
June 2013not enough data+1,789+146.52%3,010
May 2013not enough data-1,048-46.19%1,221
April 2013not enough data-7,241-76.14%2,269
March 2013not enough data+7,172+306.76%9,510
February 2013not enough data-3,217-57.91%2,338
January 2013not enough data-1,054-15.95%5,555
December 2012not enough data-526-7.37%6,609
November 2012not enough data+805+12.72%7,135
October 2012not enough data+5,824+1150.99%6,330
September 2012not enough datan/an/a506

How many people play Natural Selection 2 right now?

At this moment Natural Selection 2 has 78 concurrent players on Steam. That makes it the #3,716 most played game on Steam at the moment. In the last 24 hours it peaked at 159 players. Today's peak is 33% above its 30-day average daily peak of 120.

Natural Selection 2 player count history

Over the last 30 days Natural Selection 2 averaged a daily peak of 120 players, up 4% compared with the 30 days before (115). Its highest point this month (178) is 12% below the same period last year (203). In its first month after release (Sep 1, 2012) it peaked at 506 players. Today's player count is 1% of its all-time peak of 9,510, set on Mar 24, 2013.

Best time to play Natural Selection 2

Based on the last 14 days, Natural Selection 2 is busiest around 19:00 UTC (2 PM in New York) and quietest around 09:00 UTC (4 AM in New York), when about 84% fewer people are online. For the fastest matchmaking, play close to the peak hour.

Natural Selection 2 players by hour and weekday

When Natural Selection 2 has the most players online, by weekday and hour, shown in your time zone. Busy hours mean faster matchmaking and fuller servers; quiet hours are best for solo play.

BusiestSaturday at 19:00 UTCabout 142 players on average
QuietestFriday at 09:00 UTCabout 11 players on average
Busy vs quiet12.9xmore players at the busiest hour
Fewer playersMore playersTimes in UTC. Hover or tap a cell.

Average players for each hour of the week over the last 28 days, from our Steam player counts.

Compare Natural Selection 2 with similar games

Player counts, peaks, reviews and prices side by side. Compare any Steam games

About Natural Selection 2

A fast paced multiplayer shooter that pits aliens against humans in a strategic and action-packed struggle for survival!

Developer
Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Publisher
Unknown Worlds Entertainment, KRAFTON, Inc.
Released
Sep 1, 2012
Genre
Action, Indie, Strategy
Steam Deck
Playable
Languages
10 languages, 1 with full audio

Screenshots

Natural Selection 2 screenshot 1Natural Selection 2 screenshot 2Natural Selection 2 screenshot 3Natural Selection 2 screenshot 4Natural Selection 2 screenshot 5Natural Selection 2 screenshot 6

Natural Selection 2 price history

$4.99
price now (US)
$0.99
lowest recorded (-80%) · Jan 4, 2026 archived
-50%
typical sale discount · 3 sales seen

Good time to buy? Probably wait for a sale. Natural Selection 2 is at its full price of $4.99. It usually goes on sale for about 50% off (around $2.50), and the lowest we have recorded is $0.99.Next Steam sale: Steam Winter Sale, Dec 17 to Jan 4. See the countdown

US price on Steam. Readings before Oct 13, 2026 come from archived copies of the Steam store page (Internet Archive), so short sales between copies can be missing. Checked daily.

How many copies has Natural Selection 2 sold?

We estimate Natural Selection 2 has sold 160K to 410K copies on Steam, based on how many Steam reviews it has. At the prices it has actually sold for, that is roughly $640K to $1.6M in gross revenue.

Estimated copies sold
160K to 410K
on Steam
Estimated gross revenue
$640K to $1.6M
before Steam's share and taxes

Natural Selection 2 reviews by language

  • English69%
  • Russian15%
  • French5%
  • German4%
  • Chinese (Simplified)4%
  • Spanish3%

Share of Steam reviews written in each of the 11 biggest Steam languages. It shows where the game's players are, roughly.

These are estimates, not official sales figures. How we estimate sales.

Get Natural Selection 2 alerts by email

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Natural Selection 2 reviews over time

85% Very Positive85% of 13,139 Steam reviews are positiveRead reviews on Steam

Positive and negative Steam user reviews per month, from Steam's review history.

Natural Selection 2 achievements

Natural Selection 2 has 137 Steam achievements. On average a player has unlocked 4.0% of them; the rarest, Matched Play Unlock, is held by 0.0% of players.

  • They Just Keep ComingKill a Skulk18.5%
  • TSFPlay a round as a Marine17.9%
  • Strategic ThinkingFollow 5 Commander’s orders in a single round17.0%
  • KharaaPlay a round as an Alien16.9%
  • DemolitionsDeal 7500 structure damage in a single round16.3%
  • First Class PostUse a Phase Gate16.2%
  • First AdventureComplete both tutorials.16.0%
  • TravelerPlay on 3 different maps15.9%
  • Tag!Parasite a Marine15.8%
  • UntouchableKill a Marine while having full health15.6%
  • ExplorerUse Play Now15.2%
  • Economics 101Kill an Harvester14.6%
  • BloodrageDeal 4000 player damage in a single round14.6%
  • Mood LightingWeld a Power Node14.2%
  • Battle ReadyEvolve one Kharaa Upgrade14.1%
  • SlimyUse a Kharaa Tunnel13.8%
  • Security DetailKill an Alien while defending an Extractor13.7%
  • New RecruitComplete the Marine tutorial.13.6%
  • Air DefenseKill a Lerk13.3%
  • Team PlayerDestroy an Extractor13.3%
  • Economic SabotageKill a Gorge12.7%
  • Fresh LarvaComplete the Alien tutorial.12.6%
  • DisarmamentKill a Marine who has a Shotgun12.2%
  • ‘Tis But a ScratchGet healed with a single health point12.0%
  • No More Fancy ToysDestroy 100 resources worth of enemy technology in a single round10.9%
  • Asymmetrical CombatKill a Fade10.6%
  • FirefighterKill a Marine who has a Flamethrower10.5%
  • Unfair AdvantageEvolve three Alien upgrades10.3%
  • Big Game HunterKill an Onos9.8%
  • They Came From BehindKill a Marine after sneaking as Skulk9.6%
  • CheckmateDeal the killing blow to a Hive or Command Station9.6%
  • Bomb DefusalKill a Marine who has a Grenade Launcher9.3%
  • Most Valued XenomorphKill a Marine while defending a Harvester9.3%
  • Eat Your GreensComplete all new player missions8.3%
  • You're Walking NowDestroy an Exosuit7.4%
  • The Doctor is InWeld your teammates 10 times in a single round6.9%
  • RegicideKill the enemy team's Commander6.6%
  • Burning CashDestroy 200 resources worth of enemy technology in a single round6.4%
  • Old RecruitComplete the Marine Commander tutorial.6.2%
  • RepairmanWeld 5 Power Nodes in a single round5.4%
  • I See Human ScumParasite 10 Marines in a single round5.3%
  • Higher LifeformComplete the Alien Commander tutorial.4.5%
  • CultivationBuild a Hive as Gorge4.1%
  • ProtipKill a Marine with two Bites and a Parasite4.0%
  • RecessionDestroy 300 resources worth of enemy technology in a single round3.9%
  • Long Term InvestmentsKill an Alien while defending an Extractor 5 times in a single round3.2%
  • Unsportsmanlike ConductTaunt after killing an enemy player3.2%
  • DambusterKill 5 Harvesters in a single round2.5%
  • Barking DogDestroy 5 Extractors in a single round2.4%
  • Wall Hacks!Parasite 20 Marines in a single round2.2%
  • UnleashedRattling the Cage reaps its own reward2.2%
  • Arcade ChampionSpent some time playing arcade game modes1.9%
  • Quality AssuranceKill a developer1.5%
  • Speed DemonComplete the Skulk Race Challenge1.3%
  • Combat EngineerBuild 10 Extractors in a single round0.9%
  • Secure InvestmentsKill a Marine while defending a Harvester 5 times in a single round0.9%
  • Adam SmithKill an Alien while defending an Extractor 10 times in a single round0.8%
  • No Tech For YouKill 10 Harvesters in a single round0.7%
  • Rifles OnlyDestroy 10 Extractors in a single round0.6%
  • Darwin AwardHidden achievement0.5%

Showing the 60 most unlocked of 137 achievements.

Global unlock rates from Steam, most common first.

Natural Selection 2 DLC

Natural Selection 2 has 10 DLCs and soundtracks on Steam, newest first.

Latest Natural Selection 2 news and patch notes

Official announcements from the developer on Steam.

Natural Selection 2 FAQ

Is Natural Selection 2 dead?

Natural Selection 2 has a small but active player base. 78 people are playing it on Steam right now. Over the last 30 days its player count has been stable (up 4% on the month before).

How many people play Natural Selection 2?

78 people are playing Natural Selection 2 on Steam right now. In the last 24 hours it peaked at 159 concurrent players.

What is the all-time peak player count for Natural Selection 2?

Natural Selection 2 reached its all-time Steam peak of 9,510 concurrent players on Mar 24, 2013.

Is Natural Selection 2 growing or declining?

Natural Selection 2 is stable. Its average daily peak over the last 30 days was 120, up 4% compared with the previous 30 days.

When is Natural Selection 2 most active?

Natural Selection 2 usually has the most players around 19:00 UTC (2 PM in New York) and the fewest around 09:00 UTC (4 AM in New York).

How much does Natural Selection 2 cost?

Natural Selection 2 costs $4.99 on Steam in the US. Prices are checked daily and can differ by region.

What is the lowest price Natural Selection 2 has been on Steam?

The lowest US price we have recorded for Natural Selection 2 on Steam is $0.99 (80% off), on Jan 4, 2026 (from an archived copy of the Steam store page). It costs $4.99 right now.

Is Natural Selection 2 on sale right now?

No, Natural Selection 2 is at its full price of $4.99 on Steam right now. In past sales it usually dropped about 50%, and the biggest discount we have seen is 80%.

Is Natural Selection 2 good?

Steam players rate Natural Selection 2 Very Positive: 85% of 13,139 reviews are positive.

When did Natural Selection 2 come out?

Natural Selection 2 was released on Steam on Sep 1, 2012.

Who made Natural Selection 2?

Natural Selection 2 was developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment and published by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, KRAFTON, Inc..

Is Natural Selection 2 still worth playing?

Natural Selection 2 has a smaller but active community on Steam today (78 playing right now), and players still rate it well (Very Positive).

How many copies has Natural Selection 2 sold?

We estimate Natural Selection 2 has sold 160K to 410K copies on Steam, based on how many Steam reviews it has. This is an estimate, not an official figure, because Steam does not publish sales.

RageQuit Charts is not affiliated with Valve Corporation. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks of Valve Corporation. Player counts come from the official Steam Web API.