There are many different formulas for measuring the success of video games. However, the most successful games are often also the best-selling, and millions of copies sold clearly speak in favor of these titles. After all, who would buy a bad game?
Best-selling games – Overview of the best-selling games of all time
The world’s bestselling video game is Minecraft (source: www.minecraft.net)
Statistics may be boring, but they provide accurate data. This old saying hides undeniable truth and fits perfectly into the video game industry. Although numbers can be dull, they clearly show the success of individual games. Besides the number of active players and revenue, another key factor for determining the best games is sales. Bestselling games are not always the most profitable, but they still managed to earn their producers and developers a lot of money. The number of copies sold often reflects a game’s popularity, and numbers reaching several millions prove it. Our list includes five games that have managed to sell the most copies over time, earning their place in history. These are iconic video game titles that shaped their genre and helped form the gaming industry as we know it today.
Most popular esports games
6. Super Mario Bros
Among the bestselling games is also the legendary title Super Mario Bros, which has sold around 58 million copies. In this game, you play as Mario and his sidekick Luigi as they journey across the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Peach. Although this game was released in 1985, its simplicity and timeless design still make it a beloved classic today.
Overview of Super Mario games
5. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
The most successful and bestselling online multiplayer battle royale game ranks fifth with 75 million copies sold. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (shortened to PUBG) was not the first of its genre but managed to fix its predecessors’ flaws and quickly became the best battle royale game available. Although slightly outdated on PC today, its mobile version PUBG MOBILE LITE continues to break records in its category.
4. Wii Sports
The bestselling game for the Nintendo Wii still entertains millions of sports enthusiasts worldwide. Unlike typical video games, it requires players’ physical activity, tracked by motion controllers. Wii Sports offers a wide range of sports activities that you can enjoy solo or with a partner, making it a great addition to parties. Nearly 83 million copies sold secured its fourth-place ranking.
3. Tetris
An icon of the gaming industry. The best puzzle game ever. Tetris can be described in many ways, and countless versions exist today, but the Electronic Arts mobile version became the bestselling mobile game of its time. From its release until 2012, an incredible 202 million copies were sold, with the EA Mobile version achieving 100 million paid downloads. Tetris is a timeless classic.
2. Grand Theft Auto V
If anyone knows how to create modern open-world games, it’s the development studio Rockstar North. The first four arcade-style shooter games with the option to drive various vehicles laid the foundation for one of the best video game franchises ever. The development of Grand Theft Auto V (shortened to GTA V) cost an unbelievable $265 million, making it the most expensive game ever developed. However, Rockstar has recouped this investment many times over, as the game has sold an astonishing 190 million copies to date. Add in the additional revenue from microtransactions in the online mode, and it’s easy to see why the game is so beloved. And there’s more! Rumors about a sixth installment in the GTA series are circulating online.
1. Minecraft
When we first played the pixelated sandbox game years ago, we never imagined how far Minecraft would go. Its playfulness, creative freedom, and procedurally generated world offer an unmatched mining, building, and adventure simulation even today. With an incredible 300 million copies sold across all platforms and millions of active players, it is one of the most successful video games ever and the bestselling game in history. Good ideas sell themselves, and Minecraft is living proof.
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