Steam wishlist conversion rate: what is normal
2 min read
By Eduardo Orellana ·
In GameDiscoverCo's analysis of Steam launches from September 2024 to September 2025 with over 25,000 wishlists, the median game sold about 0.15 copies per wishlist in its first week, and about 0.10 for games priced above $10; rates spread across an order of magnitude. Underperformers had lower first-week review scores (about 67% positive against 91%) and had sat on Steam longer before launch. Your own conversion is in Steamworks' wishlist report: purchases by wishlisters against the total.
Two games with 20,000 wishlists can sell 1,000 or 6,000 in week one
That spread is the most important thing about wishlist conversion. The median is useful for planning; your own number depends on things you control.
The median
- 0.15× first-week sales per wishlist, for launches with over 25,000 wishlists, September 2024 to September 2025.
- 0.10× for games priced above $10.
- About 0.14× with adult games excluded, which convert unusually well.
What drives the spread
- Reviews at launch: underperformers averaged about 67% positive in week one, stronger games about 91%.
- Time on Steam: underperformers had spent longer as Coming Soon (about 411 days against 214), which suggests interest that cooled, not that early pages are bad.
- Price: higher prices convert lower in week one.
- The launch beat: a discount, creator coverage and Popular Upcoming at release.
Reading yours
Steamworks' wishlist report shows additions, deletions and purchases by wishlisters. Divide wishlister purchases in the first week by outstanding wishlists at launch. Track it after each sale too: discount emails convert more over time.
Where Flockbay fits
Flockbay's Steam numbers read your exact wishlists from your own Steamworks key, which never leaves your machine, free. Its playtests help launch-week reviews by catching crashes before players do, free in beta until 1 December 2026.