No Rest for the Wicked has climbed to the number two spot on Steam's global best-sellers list. This sudden surge for a title that had been flying under the radar is clearly the result of a perfectly timed combination: a major content update and a limited-time free-to-play event.

No Rest for the Wicked opts for a top-down perspective, blending soulslike combat—courtesy of the team behind the Ori series—with life-sim elements like town building and interior decorating, all wrapped in a distinct, painterly aesthetic. The recent update, coupled with a discount and free access, pushed the concurrent player count past 60,000, setting a new record for the game since its Steam launch.

The core of this update is the addition of co-op play. Given the game’s soulslike DNA, the combat was previously a solitary, heavy affair focused on dodging and parrying. Now, co-op takes the edge off, allowing you to draw aggro while your teammates land hits, with the added perk of shared quest progress. Lowering the barrier to entry with a free trial week was a smart move.

Public sentiment has shifted, too. While the all-time user rating remains 'Mostly Positive,' the last 30 days tell a brighter story: 'Very Positive' (2,649 reviews, 83% positive). Players are loving the art style and the thrill of exploring with friends. However, it’s not all sunshine; friendly fire remains a point of contention, and there are still gripes regarding shaky optimization, loot/quest rewards not being shared, and persistent network hiccups.