The Algorithm Problem
I have a love-hate relationship with Steam's algorithm.
On one hand, it's useful. It shows me games I might like. It recommends titles based on what I've played. It surfaces things I might have missed.
On the other hand, it's limiting. It shows me what's popular. It shows me what's trending. It shows me what everyone else is playing.
The algorithm is designed to maximize engagement. It's not designed to help me find buried games. It's designed to show me what other people are playing, not what I might be missing.
If I want to find the games that got buried, I need to search differently. I need to ignore the algorithm. I need to search on my own terms.
Here's how I do it.
The Discovery Queue Trap
The Steam discovery queue is a trap.
It's designed to keep you scrolling. It shows you games, you click "not interested" or "add to wishlist," and you keep going. It's addictive. It's easy. It's also mostly useless.
The queue shows you games that are already popular. Games that have been reviewed by hundreds of people. Games that have already been discovered.
If I want to find buried games, I avoid the discovery queue. I search differently.
Method One: Filter by Reviews
This is my most reliable method.
I search for games in a genre I'm interested in. I filter by release date—usually the last year or two. And then I sort by the number of reviews.
This is the key. I sort by the fewest reviews, not the most.
Most people sort by "most popular" or "top rated." I sort by "fewest reviews." This shows me the games that almost nobody has played.
Of course, there are a lot of bad games with few reviews. But there are also some gems. You have to dig through the noise.
I'll spend an hour looking at games with 50-200 reviews. Most of them are mediocre. Some of them are interesting. A few of them are genuinely good.
Those few are why I do this.
Method Two: Follow Festival Demos
Steam festivals are a goldmine.
During a festival, developers release demos of upcoming games. The festival environment levels the playing field. A small game with no marketing can get just as much attention as a bigger game.
I play as many demos as I can during festivals. I try games I've never heard of. I try games with no reviews. I try games that look weird.
I've found some of my favorite games this way. Games that were barely marketed. Games that had no reviews. Games that were still in development.
When the full game releases, I keep an eye on it. If it's good, I buy it. If it's not, I don't.
Method Three: Follow Curators I Trust
Steam curators are hit or miss. Most of them are useless. Some of them are helpful.
I follow a few curators who focus on hidden gems. They write about games that nobody is talking about. They don't just review the popular titles.
I don't follow many. A handful of trusted voices. When they recommend something, I pay attention.
Method Four: Watch the New Releases
Every day, games are released on Steam. Most of them are ignored.
I check the "New Releases" section regularly. I look at games that launched in the last week. I scroll past the ones with hundreds of reviews and look at the ones with almost none.
Sometimes I find something interesting. A game that launched quietly. A game that deserved better. A game that I can be one of the first to discover.
Method Five: Use External Sources
Steam isn't the only place to find games.
I follow Reddit threads on r/IndieGaming and r/patientgamers. I read blogs that focus on hidden gems. I watch YouTube videos from creators who dig for overlooked games.
These sources often surface games that Steam's algorithm missed.
What I'm Looking For
When I search this way, I'm not looking for perfection.
I'm looking for games that are interesting. Games with a clear vision. Games that take risks. Games that do something different.
Some of them will be rough around the edges. Some will be short. Some will be weird.
But they'll all be worth mentioning.
The Joy of Discovery
There's a joy to finding games this way.
It's not the same as seeing a game on the front page. It's not the same as reading a glowing review. It's a different feeling. It's the feeling of discovery. The feeling of finding something that was hiding in plain sight.
That's what keeps me searching. That's why I spend time on this. That's why I'm writing about it.
The Bottom Line
Steam's algorithm is useful. But it's not the only way to find games.
If you want to find buried games, search differently. Filter by reviews. Follow festival demos. Find curators you trust. Watch new releases. Use external sources.
Don't let the algorithm decide what you play. Search on your own terms.
This is the kind of game that needs someone to mention it.
Not everything loud is worth your time. Not everything quiet should be missed.
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