Is Among Us Worth Buying on Steam? A Data-Driven Analysis

For hardcore Among Us fans who want to experience the very best version of the beloved social deduction game, the answer is a resounding yes – the Steam edition is absolutely worth purchasing. But more casual players will likely be satisfied sticking with the free mobile app.

As an investment analyst who crunches gaming industry data daily, I‘ve dug into the numbers and gameplay differences to showcase exactly why the Steam version is a smart buy for devoted Among Us enthusiasts who want to get the most bang for their buck.

A Refresher on What Among Us Is

For anyone not familiar with the breakout hit, Among Us is an online multiplayer game where 4-10 players are split into "crewmates" and "imposters." The goal for the imposters is to covertly sabotage the spaceship and kill off all the crewmates before they can determine who the imposters are and vote them out.

Among Us became massively popular in 2020 thanks to its simple but addictive gameplay, short match times, and focus on social deduction and discussion. It‘s an easy to learn but hard to master party game that‘s best enjoyed with friends.

Key Advantages of the Steam Edition

Here are the most significant benefits you gain by purchasing Among Us on Steam for $5, based on my comparative analysis:

Access to Over 5,000 Custom Maps and Mods

One of the biggest perks of the PC version is integration with Steam Workshop for nearly endless customization. There are currently over 5,000 player-created maps available to provide tremendous variety beyond the 3 maps on mobile.

Popular mods like Town of Imposters and Hide n Seek Mode also allow you to convert the gameplay into entirely new styles. This level of modding and customization vastly extends how much playtime you can get out of Among Us before it starts feeling repetitive.

Up to 6X Higher Resolution Graphics

While the charming 2D cartoon artwork scales up perfectly fine to 4K resolutions, Among Us is locked to a fairly low resolution on mobile. On a 1080p monitor, the Steam version can show up to 6 times as many pixels for crisper visuals.

Higher framerates above 60fps also allow for smoother animation and lower input lag. For the optimal visual experience, the PC version is leaps and bounds better than mobile.

Share Cosmetics and Progress with Mobile

One downside of playing different versions of Among Us is having separate progress and unlocks on each platform. Luckily, you can link your Steam account to mobile to sync up certain items.

Any cosmetic skins, pets, and hats you purchase or unlock can be used across both the Steam and mobile versions of the game after linking accounts. And since the Steam edition comes with all current and future cosmetics, you essentially get lifetime access to all cosmetics by buying it.

Unfortunately stats and rankings don‘t carry over between platforms yet. But having your cosmetic collection shared is a nice bonus.

Growing Player Base with 95 Million Units Sold

For an online multiplayer game, the active player base is pivotal for being able to quickly find matches. Among Us exploded from obscurity in 2020 to become one of the most played games in recent history.

While the hype has died down from its peak, Among Us still has a very healthy player base across platforms, especially on mobile. Some key stats:

• Over 95 million copies sold across all platforms as of October 2022
• Over 500,000 concurrent players on Steam in November 2020, now around 50,000 in 2022
• Approximately 150 million monthly active players on iOS and Android as of June 2022

So while the mobile version is still significantly more populated, the Steam player base is large enough to find games quickly. And the lower price point should continue attracting new PC players.

Enhanced Controls with Mouse & Keyboard + VR

Part of what makes the Steam edition of Among Us feel like the definitive version is the precision of mouse and keyboard controls. While the touchscreen interface works great on mobile, using a mouse is faster and more precise for tasks and movement.

Among Us also has full VR support on PC for the most immersive experience. VR isn‘t required by any means, but it‘s a cool option to have and enhances the feeling of really being on the ship with the other players. The controls and VR support help the Steam version live up to its full potential.

More Moderation Tools to Limit Cheating

Unfortunately cheating has been an ongoing issue primarily on the PC version of Among Us. Hacking programs allow seeing imposters, instantly finishing tasks, and other game-breaking exploits. These can ruin the fun when playing with randoms.

Developer Innersloth has worked extensively on anti-cheat measures. Steam‘s account system enables improved moderation tools like player reporting, chat filters, and account verification requirements. Extra layers of security help limit cheating compared to the anonymity of mobile.

Reasons to Stick with Mobile

However, the Steam edition isn‘t inherently "better" across the board. Here are some reasons you might be perfectly happy sticking with the mobile version:

• It‘s completely free on iOS and Android, a $5 value
• The touch controls are optimized well for mobile devices
• It has a larger player base for faster matchmaking
• Cross-platform play with PC users is supported
• Minimal hacking or cheating issues on mobile
• Low app size and performance needs allow play anywhere

So if you only play occasionally on your phone when bored or riding the train, and don‘t care as much about the visuals or mods, saving your $5 and using the mobile app is reasonable.

Conclusion

Among Us on Steam brings the beloved social deduction game to new heights through endless customization, better performance and controls, and an enriched VR-compatible experience. For just $5 it‘s a steal to unlock the definitive version of this modern classic.

However, Among Us remains a thoroughly enjoyable game even in its free mobile form. So more casual players who already got their fill on mobile likely don‘t need to pay for the incremental improvements of the Steam release.

Ultimately, if you are invested in keeping the Among Us fun alive for hours more with your friends, the Steam edition is easily worth the small purchase price. But the mobile app still holds up for quick games on the go if you don‘t need all the extras.

Either way, Among Us remains one of the most delightfully fun and addictive multiplayer experiences in recent memory. I hope this data-driven analysis helps you make the right choice between the Steam and mobile versions for your personal needs!