Since its Xbox debut early last month, the survival sandbox game, Raft, has been charting impressive waters.  Currently holding a strong position on the Microsoft Store's Top Paid games chart, it's vying for a top 10 spot in the competitive US market, facing stiff competition from established AAA franchises.

Initially launched in early access on Steam in May 2018, Raft achieved its full release in June 2022.  The game, which challenges players to expand and upgrade their eponymous raft while navigating a vast ocean, has garnered significant praise on Steam, boasting a 93% approval rating from over 286,000 user reviews.

While survival games set in jungles, deserts, or icy tundras are commonplace, the open ocean remains a relatively unexplored setting. Raft offers a refreshing take on the genre, immersing players in a unique maritime survival experience.

Following its Xbox announcement on December 3, 2024, Raft launched on Microsoft's consoles the very next day.  Its current ranking within the top echelon of the Microsoft Store's Top Paid category speaks volumes about its reception. This highly-rated co-op survival game is experiencing a resurgence amidst a chart dominated by AAA sports titles and first-person shooters.

Although official sales figures remain undisclosed, Xbox's Top Paid Games ranking considers factors such as recent sales, active players, and overall popularity. Raft's strong performance suggests brisk sales since its Xbox launch.

The top ranks of Microsoft's chart are currently dominated by EA Sports titles, including Madden NFL 25, College Football 25, and UFC 5 Ultimate Edition, with NBA 2K25 also holding a prominent position.  Amongst these giants, only Minecraft, another survival crafting game, sits higher than Raft. While Minecraft's legacy as the best-selling game of all time precedes it, both games share a common thread of open-world crafting and exploration, appealing to a broad audience.

User reviews on the Microsoft Store reflect a generally positive sentiment towards Raft, with a significant portion awarding it the highest rating.  However, a subset of players has reported encountering game-breaking bugs, including issues with creature spawns and crossplay functionality.  Furthermore, the lack of an analog stick deadzone poses challenges for players experiencing controller drift. Despite these issues, the overall reception indicates a strong player base enjoying Raft's unique gameplay on a new platform.