In the most played PC games in March, Heroes of the Storm and the war simulation War Thunder are on the rise.
Every month, Raptr evaluates user numbers and gives us an overview of what PC gamers using their program do with their gaming hours. These are not “universally valid” numbers, such a thing simply does not exist, but they at least outline a trend of what PC players are currently playing.
The figures do not represent an actual “Top 20” but should rather be seen as a trend barometer indicating whether the playtime for a particular game is increasing or decreasing.
Heroes of the Storm was a big winner even in beta
Overall, March was a weaker month compared to February. Playtime decreased by 4.85%.
The big winner in March was Blizzard’s MOBA “Heroes of the Storm.” It increased by 48.5% and is still in Closed Beta. However, Blizzard is doing everything possible to get as many players as possible to try out their MOBA and is handing out keys endlessly. The trend could still increase in May and June. Then the MOBA will first enter Open Beta, then the release.
At the moment, Raptr players’ PCs have almost reached the playtime of Hearthstone. However, Blizzard’s card game is also likely to receive a boost in April, as the Blackrock Mountain adventure is in full swing.
Let’s see how the rise of Heroes of the Storm will affect the playtime of League of Legends, Dota 2, and Smite. Dota 2 has lost its solid third place behind the fixed star League of Legends and the marathon game World of Warcraft this month. The shooter CS:Go has taken that spot now.
MMORPGs relatively stable, but not enough for TESO yet
In the classic MMORPGs, there were few fluctuations in March. WoW is quite stable like a rock, and there could be a surprising upward spike in April due to the WoW token. The system invites former players to resume their old career for free, provided they had saved enough gold back then.
Final Fantasy XIV and Guild Wars 2 remain stable at 11 and 12. The MMORPGs will have their big moments in the coming months. Both are expecting expansions.
The downward trend for ArcheAge continues steadily, as has been observable in recent months. There was little going on with Star Wars: The Old Republic in March, losing two places.
There was some speculation about whether The Elder Scrolls Online would make it back into the top 20 of the month with the Buy2Play transition mid-March. However, that did not happen. Position 20 is still held by Spider Solitaire.
War Thunder makes a big leap
On the other hand, War Thunder has gained ground; it is an MMO that stands in the shadow of the big rival “World of Tanks” (place 10), but has developed a strong fan base among connoisseurs. In March, the game gained 4 places and now stands at 13. According to the Raptr blog, this was due to some improvements and events.
Also, the MMO shooter Warframe, the PC alternative to Destiny, has maintained its three well-made places from February and even moves up another rank.
