A continuous process is disclosed for separating components of a hydrocarbon gas stream which are selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, higher saturated hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof by countercurrently contacting the hydrocarbon gas stream with a physical solvent selected from the group consisting of:(1) paraffinic solvents having molecular weights ranging from 75 to 140 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 12.0 to 13.5, these factors being independent of the aromatic content of the paraffinic solvents,(2) naphthenic solvents having molecular weights ranging from 75 to 130 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 10.5 to 12.0, these factors being independent of the aromatic content of the naphthenic solvents, and(3) benzene and toluene,to produce an overhead stream which is rich in methane and a rich solvent bottoms stream and then recovering the lean physical solvent and a C.sub.2 + hydrocarbons product from the rich solvent bottoms stream and recycling the recovered solvent stream to the contacting step.