The open-world survival horror game Sons of the Forest has witnessed an extraordinary resurgence in popularity, with player counts skyrocketing by approximately 457% in July 2025 compared to May figures. Originally launched in February 2024 by Endnight Games, this sequel to The Forest initially peaked during its early access phase in 2023 with over 400,000 concurrent players. Now, more than a year after its full release, the game has achieved another significant milestone thanks to two simultaneous events that reinvigorated its player base.

Early in its lifecycle, Sons of the Forest made waves by becoming one of Google's most searched games of 2023. While the initial excitement gradually subsided, the game maintained a dedicated community of 10,000-20,000 active players exploring its mysterious island setting. The recent surge began when the game hit its 2025 peak on June 29 with nearly 49,000 concurrent players - its highest count since October 2024's record of 53,000. This revival stems from a combination of substantial content updates and strategic pricing during Steam's annual summer event.

The developer's recent major update introduced fresh gameplay elements while addressing longstanding issues, significantly improving the player experience. However, the true catalyst for the surge appears to be the game's deep discount during the 2025 Steam Summer Sale, where its price dropped to around $10 - making it an irresistible deal for survival game enthusiasts. This perfect storm of improvements and affordability has brought thousands of new survivors to the game's terrifying wilderness.

After numerous updates and refinements, Sons of the Forest currently stands as one of Steam's most visually impressive survival titles. The game's mechanics have been polished to a fine sheen, and Endnight Games continues demonstrating strong commitment to ongoing support. With the Steam Summer Sale offering the game at 66% off (reducing the price from $29.99 to just $10.99) until July 10, there's never been a better time to experience this survival horror masterpiece.

The revitalized player base means servers are more active than ever, creating ideal conditions for cooperative play. Fans of exploration and survival mechanics might also consider Valheim, currently available at 50% off on Steam for $9.99. However, Sons of the Forest offers a uniquely tense experience that blends crafting, base-building, and psychological horror in ways few other games can match.