GeoGuessr’s arrival on Steam has been anything but smooth. Just days after its May 8, 2025, launch, the game has become one of the lowest-rated titles on the platform, sparking frustration among fans and newcomers. The main gripe? A subscription model that many players find off-putting.
According to 80 Level and TheGamer reports, GeoGuessr Steam Edition has gathered over 3,000 reviews, with a mere 16% rating it positively. The subscription-based payment system, charging $29.99 per year or $2.50 monthly, has been the focal point of player dissatisfaction.
Unlike the browser version, the Steam Edition offers limited free access to the Amateur Division and unranked team duels. Players must buy a Steam Pass or one of the yearly subscriptions labeled Elite or Unlimited to jump into the popular ranked Solo Duels mode or access other content. Adding to the confusion, the browser subscription doesn’t unlock paid content on Steam, and the Steam Pass doesn’t grant access on the browser. Only the Elite or Unlimited yearly subscriptions work across both platforms.
Despite the rocky start, cross-play between the browser and Steam versions is supported. It’s worth noting that GeoGuessr is still in early access on Steam, which might explain some of the rough edges.
For context, Steam250 ranks GeoGuessr Steam Edition as the second-worst-rated game on Steam, just behind War of the Three Kingdoms and ahead of Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight. That’s a tough spot for a game that once thrived as a favorite browser experience.
In other gaming news, Borderlands 4 is rolling out a significant update to its co-op and loot systems. At the same time, a Battlefield Labs leak hints at the return of a Battlefield 5 gameplay mechanic, though not without controversy.
