No Rest for the Wicked: How Moon Studios’ ARPG Climbed Steam’s Charts

No Rest for the Wicked has rapidly become one of the most talked‑about action RPGs on Steam. Developed by Moon Studios, best known for the acclaimed Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps, this dark fantasy ARPG has turned an initially cautious early access launch into a steady climb up the platform’s charts. A major co-op update has been central to that rise, pushing the game ahead of several high‑profile competitors in the action and shooter space.

This article explores how No Rest for the Wicked leveraged its co-op update, distinctive combat, and the reputation of Moon Studios to gain traction, what its Steam chart performance tells us, and how it compares to other live‑service and PvP‑heavy titles vying for players’ time.

From Ori to a Gritty ARPG: Moon Studios’ New Direction

Moon Studios earned widespread critical praise for the Ori series, celebrated for hand‑drawn art, tight platforming, and emotional storytelling. Stepping into the ARPG genre with No Rest for the Wicked marks a notable shift in tone and mechanics.

Instead of ethereal forests and platforming, the studio now offers:

• A plague‑stricken medieval world rendered with painterly detail
• Slow, weighty combat closer to a Soulslike than a looter‑shooter
• Precision‑focused animation and hit feedback, drawing on Ori’s responsiveness
• Systems‑driven progression with crafting, gear, and town development

That pivot is risky. Fans of Ori might not automatically follow Moon Studios into a harsh, combat‑heavy ARPG. Yet the studio’s reputation creates curiosity, and early access on Steam allows them to iterate in public while leveraging player feedback, as described in their own store page overview of the project’s early access goals.¹

Why Early Access Was a Strategic Choice

No Rest for the Wicked launched into Steam Early Access on April 18, 2024, with a clear message: the developers wanted time to build out an “expansive ARPG” with many interlocking systems.¹ For a complex game with:

• Precision melee combat that needs extensive tuning
• Multiple progression paths and interconnected mechanics
• Online features like co-op and, potentially, broader social layers

early access serves as both testing ground and marketing platform. Players get a slice of the game early; the studio gets telemetry, feedback, and revenue while development continues.

The Steam Charts as a Pulse Check

Because early access games evolve over time, a single launch week doesn’t tell the whole story. Ongoing player counts and peak concurrency are a better long‑term indicator of interest, especially after major patches.

Public tracking sites like SteamDB and Steam Charts, which pull data directly from Steam’s backend, show that No Rest for the Wicked reached an all‑time peak of roughly 63,000 concurrent players soon after release and now maintains a smaller but steady player base as of 2026, with average monthly player numbers in the low thousands and periodic spikes following patches and hotfixes.^2,3

Note: Figures are approximate and based on publicly visible tracking; they fluctuate daily and are used here for broad context rather than exact reporting.

The Co-Op Update That Changed the Conversation

One of the most impactful beats in the game’s life so far has been the release of its co-op update, enabling up to four players to tackle the grim world of No Rest for the Wicked together.¹ The update did more than just tack on multiplayer—it reshaped how the game is discussed and streamed, which matters greatly in the current PC gaming ecosystem.

Why Co-Op Matters So Much for ARPGs

Steam’s ecosystem heavily rewards social and co‑op experiences. Valve’s own guidance for developers highlights how features such as co‑operative play and multiplayer hooks can improve discovery, streaming appeal, and player retention on the platform.⁴ For No Rest for the Wicked, co‑op adds several advantages:

• Replay value: Re-running areas with different builds and party compositions extends the lifetime of content.
• Social stickiness: Groups of friends keep each other engaged, returning for patches and new gear.
• Streaming visibility: Multiplayer runs are more dynamic to watch, amplifying reach on Twitch and YouTube.
• Experimentation space: Co-op lets players “soften” the high difficulty curve by coordinating roles and sharing knowledge.

The result was a noticeable spike in concurrent players and renewed attention from gaming press and content creators, helping the game push toward the top of Steam’s trending charts in the action RPG category and beyond.

Design Identity: Soulslike Precision Meets ARPG Systems

No Rest for the Wicked differentiates itself from more loot‑centric ARPGs by leaning into deliberate, high‑stakes combat. Instead of mowing down mobs with screen‑filling skills, players must carefully manage stamina, positioning, and timing. This fusion is what the developers call a “precision action RPG,” reflected both in the Steam description and in how the community describes its gameplay.^1,5

Core Combat Philosophy

The combat draws inspiration from the broader “Soulslike” space popularized by FromSoftware’s Dark Souls and later titles. The general traits include:

• Deliberate pacing: Attacks, dodges, and blocks have commitment frames; mistakes are punished.
• Pattern recognition: Enemies telegraph moves, encouraging learning rather than stat brute‑forcing.
• Resource tension: Stamina and health management keep fights tense, especially in co-op where survival matters for the whole group.

Where No Rest for the Wicked diverges from FromSoftware’s formula is in its ARPG‑style layering:

• Diverse gear and stat builds
• Crafting and progression systems
• Town upgrading and economic systems that give context to combat

Worldbuilding and Presentation

Moon Studios brings its visual storytelling pedigree into a darker, more grounded setting. The game’s hand‑crafted environments showcase elements the studio is known for—carefully composed backdrops and detailed animations—but with a grim, plague‑ravaged aesthetic. This focus on art and atmosphere mirrors broader industry findings that visual polish and worldbuilding significantly affect how players perceive quality and immersion in narrative‑driven games.⁶

Rising Above Competitors on the Steam Charts

The GamesRadar article that inspired this piece highlighted that, following its co‑op update, No Rest for the Wicked managed to climb past several highly visible titles in the action and shooter categories—games like free‑to‑play extraction shooters and superhero PvP titles, as well as live‑service co‑op shooters reminiscent of Helldivers 2. The exact ranking fluctuates daily, but the broader point stands: a premium early access ARPG can momentarily outshine major service games when momentum, updates, and player interest align.

Different Business Models, Different Metrics

It’s important to recognize that direct comparisons between a premium early access ARPG and free‑to‑play or heavily live‑serviced shooters are imperfect. Consider the contrasts:

• Price point: No Rest for the Wicked is a paid title, currently listed at around $39.99 USD for early access, according to its Steam store page.¹ In contrast, many of its chart neighbors are free‑to‑play with in‑game monetization.
• Session length: ARPG sessions often skew longer but less frequent, while PvP shooters thrive on quick, repeatable matches.
• Content pipelines: Live‑service games roll out new seasons and battle passes; early access ARPGs push major patches that overhaul systems and add chapters or content regions.

That a premium ARPG can still compete in concurrent player rankings suggests there is strong demand for authored, progression‑driven experiences alongside the more common seasonal shooters.

Community Reception and Ongoing Iteration

As with many demanding early access titles, initial community reception to No Rest for the Wicked has been mixed but trending positive, especially after patches and the co-op rollout. Many players praise the art direction and combat feel while calling for continued refinement in areas like balance, UI clarity, and technical performance.

The Feedback Loop of Early Access

Early access success depends heavily on the perceived responsiveness of developers. Valve’s own documentation notes that communicating roadmaps and being transparent about what is and isn’t finished are key factors in how players evaluate early access projects.⁴ Moon Studios has outlined plans on the Steam store page for expanding story content and iterating on systems, and each notable patch—with additional bug fixes and stability improvements—helps build confidence that the game is moving toward a strong 1.0 release.

Some of the recurring community themes include:

• Desire for more build variety and clearer progression paths
• Ongoing optimization for mid‑range PCs
• More robust matchmaking and co-op quality‑of‑life features

These are common growing pains for ambitious early access ARPGs. As long as updates continue to address core pain points and add fresh content, momentum can be maintained—something the game’s chart performance so far appears to support.

How No Rest for the Wicked Fits Into the ARPG Landscape

The ARPG genre is crowded, from loot‑driven classics to experimental indies. No Rest for the Wicked carves out a niche by emphasizing challenge, handcrafted environments, and a grounded, plague‑ridden narrative. Compared with lighter, more arcade‑like action RPGs, its combat is slower and more punishing, but that makes personal mastery and co-op strategy more rewarding.

Key Differentiators

• Precision over spectacle: Attacks matter, and positioning is king; you’re not simply optimizing damage per second.
• Art‑forward design: Moon Studios’ painterly visual style and cinematographic staging set it apart from many procedurally generated or modular ARPGs.
• Co-op integrated into progression: Rather than an afterthought mode, multiplayer is framed as a core way to experience the world and its challenges.

What Its Steam Chart Performance Signals About Player Tastes

The fact that No Rest for the Wicked can reach the upper tiers of the Steam charts—even temporarily surpassing games with much larger marketing budgets—suggests several broader trends:

1. Players are hungry for premium, authored experiences. Despite the dominance of free‑to‑play titles in many categories, there is still strong appetite for games that offer a finite but deep journey with tight mechanics.
2. Co-op remains a powerful growth lever. Even in genres traditionally focused on solo progression, robust co-op support can significantly boost engagement and visibility.
3. Early access is increasingly accepted for complex RPGs. When a studio communicates clearly and delivers meaningful updates, players are willing to invest before 1.0, effectively becoming part of the tuning process.

FAQs About No Rest for the Wicked’s Rise on Steam

Is No Rest for the Wicked fully released or still in early access?

No Rest for the Wicked is currently in Steam Early Access. The developers describe the current version as a work‑in‑progress slice of a larger ARPG they plan to expand with additional systems and content before a full 1.0 launch.¹

How many players can join co-op in No Rest for the Wicked?

The game currently supports co-op for up to four players, allowing groups to explore, fight, and progress through the world together as part of the core experience.¹

What kind of combat does the game have?

No Rest for the Wicked emphasizes deliberate, high‑risk melee combat where timing, stamina, and positioning matter. While it does include ARPG progression elements like gear and stats, the moment‑to‑moment action feels closer to a Soulslike than to a fast‑paced hack‑and‑slash.

How well is the game doing on Steam?

Public tracking shows that the game reached an all‑time peak of around 63,000 concurrent players and currently maintains a dedicated core audience in the low thousands of average concurrent players, with spikes around patches and updates.^2,3 Exact numbers fluctuate daily, but these figures indicate a healthy early access trajectory for a premium ARPG.

Is it worth jumping in now or waiting for 1.0?

That depends on your tolerance for unfinished systems and evolving balance. If you enjoy being part of the shaping process, providing feedback, and seeing big changes between patches, early access can be rewarding. If you prefer a more polished and content‑complete experience, you may want to follow updates for a while and join closer to 1.0.

Looking Ahead: Can No Rest for the Wicked Sustain Its Momentum?

As with any early access game, the question isn’t just how high it can spike on the charts but how long it can sustain interest. For No Rest for the Wicked, the key factors going forward will be:

• The pace and quality of new content and story chapters
• Ongoing refinement of co-op systems and technical stability
• Maintaining the balance between challenge and accessibility
• Clear communication about roadmaps and player feedback

Moon Studios has already demonstrated the ability to create beloved, polished experiences in the Ori series. If they can successfully apply that same level of craftsmanship and iteration to No Rest for the Wicked’s systems‑heavy ARPG structure, the game is poised to remain a notable presence on Steam—both as a case study in early access success and as a compelling option for players seeking a demanding co-op action RPG.