Top 10 Early Access Success Stories

Top 10 Early Access Success Stories Now THAT’S how you do early access right! Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten early access success stories. For this list, we’ll be looking at video games which were released in an early access state and which soon became enormous successes. By “early access,” we don’t necessarily mean Steam’s Early Access, although games from that service will be included. For the purposes of this list, we’ll be discussing video games which were released in some early form before their official release date, regardless of the platform.

#10: “Besiege” (2015)

“Besiege” is a physics-based game which is still currently in development by the UK-based Spiderling Studios, and the general idea of the game is to create medieval siege engines to use during attacks against the enemy. There is an enormous amount of variety to be found in the game, and if you really use your imagination, the possibilities are seemingly endless. The engines aren’t even exclusive to the medieval-era; things like tanks and bomber planes can also be created. When you take into account the numerous mods and skins, “Besiege” is easily one of the best and most valuable Early Access titles on the market.

#9: “The Long Dark” (2017)

In “The Long Dark,” you play as a bush pilot who has crash landed in and must survive the freezing and desolate Canadian wilderness. The game received backing from the Canada Media Fund before going through Kickstarter and releasing to early access in 2014. It sold around 750,000 copies in that state before it was officially released in 2017, where it received positive reviews due to its strong survival mechanics and interesting art style. In the somewhat crowded survival market, “The Long Dark” is a standout.

#8: “Prison Architect” (2015)

“Prison Architect” is a highly original idea, and it has the acclaim and the sales to show for it. In this game, you construct and manage prisons, with gameplay elements including building the prison itself, constructing the utilities, hiring employees, and keeping your inmates happy. It was released in alpha in 2012, and by 2015, the game had sold over one million copies and made $19 million in sales. It was then released on October 6, 2015 to great reviews, and has since been released on tablets and consoles. Sometimes early access developers actually care about their products, and “Prison Architect” is undeniable proof.

#7: “Don’t Starve” (2013)

“Don’t Starve” is easily one of the most successful early access titles ever, and in it, you control a scientist named Wilson who must survive, remain sane, and keep himself fed while battling otherworldly enemies. The game was released for free in beta form in 2012, and it was here where the game grew into itself, with the developers fixing bugs, creating a loyal fanbase, and implementing fan ideas, like food spoilage. After countless updates, the game was fully released one year later to positive reception. “Don’t Starve” is a fantastic example of how to do beta testing right.

#6: “Killing Floor 2” (2016)

Right from the start, “Killing Floor 2” looked to be a killer game. The development team had significantly grown since the original, and they had a lot more money and resources this time around, which definitely helped to see their ideas come to fruition. The game was released on Steam’s Early Access, which allowed the developers to listen to player feedback and improve on the game before its full release. While the game certainly contains its fair share of imperfections, like a lack of variety and the small number of maps, it was just as much fun as the original, perhaps even more so.

#5: “Subnautica” (2018)

“Subnautica” was released in January of 2018, but even in its early access form, it was ton of fun, complete with a highly explorable world and some great survival elements. In the game, you control an astronaut who crash lands on an alien planet and who must survive its underwater dangers. The game entered early access in 2014 and has enjoyed a positive response since, with many users praising its open world, the stunning use of sound, and the surprisingly good story. Upon its official release it garnered positive reviews, earning a score of 87 on Metacritic.

#4: “Ark: Survival Evolved” (2017)

“Ark: Survival Evolved” is absolutely badass: in it, you must survive on an island filled with living dinosaurs, of which there are up to sixty species. It’s a must-play game if you’re into dinosaurs or open world survival games. It was released on Early Access in June 2015, and it sold over five million copies between the PC and Xbox One over one year, making the game an enormous financial success. While some hated the inclusion of paid DLC and despise its ever-increasing price tag, “Ark” did little else wrong, and is an undeniable early access classic.

#3: “Kerbal Space Program” (2015)

When NASA and Elon Musk show interest in your space flight simulation game, you know you’ve done something right. This game SOUNDS dreadfully complex; in it, you construct a spacecraft, complete with an accurate orbital physics engine. The game also comes equipped with five-dollar phrases like descending nodes, relative velocity, and orbital inclination. However, it’s actually a ton of fun, and has been ever since its alpha release in 2011, which was quickly downloaded 5,000 times. It has won numerous industry awards since its full release and has drawn the appreciation of many in the field of space flight.

#2: “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” (2017)

“PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” has been a monumental success, and it is easily one of the most if not the most popular video game of 2017, despite being an early access title. The game was released to Early Access in March of 2017 and quickly shot to success. By July, ten million rounds had been played and eight million copies of the game had been sold. It was officially released in December of 2017. By February of 2018, 30 million copies of the game were sold through Steam. It received considerable praise to go along with its immense popularity, with many singling out its tense atmosphere and the unexpected moments which arise in its gameplay. It’s a multiplayer spectacle, and has inspired other developers to create their own Battle Royale games, most notably Epic Games' Fortnite.

#1: “Minecraft” (2011)

No matter how popular “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” may be, there’s simply no competing with the monster that is “Minecraft.” Markus Persson began developing “Minecraft” in his free time, and the game was first seen on May 17, 2009 on the TIGSource forums. The alpha release soon followed in June 2010 and was a huge success, leading Persson to quit his day job. The retail version was released in November 2011, and it has since become the second highest-selling video game of all time (behind “Tetris”), selling over 120 million copies. It has become a cultural phenomenon, and it all started on a simple forum.