Sons of the Forest‘s player count has surged by roughly 457% in July compared to May. The open-world survival game officially launched in February 2024. But it hit its all-time peak during early access in 2023, drawing over 400,000 players. Now, nearly 16 months after its global release, Sons of the Forest has reached another major milestone, thanks to two key events that happened around the same time.
One of Sons of the Forest‘s early milestones was becoming one of the most searched games on Google in 2023. This came alongside a highly successful early access period and a well-received global launch. While the initial hype eventually dwindled, the game retained a loyal player base afterward. Almost 10,000 to 20,000 survivors remained active on Site 2 and continued their explorations. Now, things seem to be picking up again as thousands of new players flock to Endnight Games’ survival horror title.
Sons of the Forest’s unique detailing gained it lots of fans, and upcoming title Serum follows a similar blend of crafting and tension.
On June 29, Sons of the Forest achieved its highest player count in 2025 with over 49,000 players. The previous peak was back in October 2024, nearly a year ago, when more than 53,000 fans logged in. Two key factors have likely caused this recent spike in popularity. First, the developer recently rolled out a major update that introduced new features and addressed critical issues. More importantly, the game was heavily discounted during the 2025 Steam Summer Sale. With its price slashed to around $10, thousands of new players were likely enticed to give it a try.
Now Is the Best Time to Play Sons of the Forest
After dozens of updates, Sons of the Forest is now one of the best-looking survival games on Steam. It feels polished, and the developer appears committed to ongoing support. Even better, the game is currently priced at one of its lowest points, making it a great addition to most gamers’ summer lineup. With the servers more active than ever, it’s also an ideal time for players looking to team up and explore Site 2 with others.
It’s worth noting that the Steam Summer Sale is set to end on July 10, giving fans only a few more days to grab Sons of the Forest at a discounted price. Until then, the game is available at 66% off, dropping its original $29.99 price to just $10.99. Fans of exploration and survival games like Sons of the Forest might also want to check out Valheimon Steam, which is currently 50% off and available for $9.99.
