Best selling videogames: the top 10

The videogame industry is constantly growing and, to this day, presents a larger market value than cinema, literature and music combined. This presents a good example of this industry’s health. As such, it’s always interesting to go through the list of the best-selling videogames in history.

Would you like to know what the most popular videogames are and what videogame is at the top position in terms of sales? Let’s go through the list of the best-selling video games in history. You’ll probably find at least one you’ve already played! Let’s go!

Top best-selling video games in history

The video game industry continues breaking records. Every year, more and more video games are sold. This includes even the games that everyone seems to already have, but which still sell more copies every year.

For this reason, this industry has become a medium that, in addition to being entertaining, represents a career opportunity for many professionals. In this sense, the medium presents prospects for growth that do not seem to stop in the short term. Something that has been increased in a context of global pandemic and home confinement.

According to the latest estimates, the video game industry is expected to grow by more than 2% in 2022.

As the world grows increasingly interested in this form of culture and entertainment, it is important to look at available data, such as sales figures, which provides context for the number of job opportunities available in this industry if you decide to train as a video game programmer.

Among the titles that we are going to mention, you will surely find one that you have played or which is your favorite. Games that left their mark and that, in some cases, are just as popular and playful now as they were when they were first out.

Minecraft

With more than 200 million copies sold since its launch in 2011, Minecraft is the best-selling game of all time. It just recently became the top best selling videogame. 

Tetris

Tetris (1984) is the quintessential puzzle game. A symbol of video games in general, it presents a multitude of adaptations and new versions. It represents the perfect example of classic videogames that everyone continues loving and which, to this day, has sold more than 170 million copies.

Grand Theft Auto V

The third best-selling video game in history is the fifth installment of the Rockstar franchise. A game that has already been important for three generations of different consoles, every year it continues to be on the lists of best-selling games.

In this list, Grand Theft Auto V (2013) gets the bronze medal, with more than 130 million copies sold.

Wii Sports

Nintendo knew how to use the potential of family and cooperative games before anyone else. Wii Sports (2006) remains one of the most popular videogames in that category. Additionally, it is related to one of the best-selling consoles of the Japanese company.

This game ranks fourth in the list, with its sales figures going beyond 82 million copies.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

While this game began its development as if it were just another independent title, it reached levels of popularity that not even its creators expected. In fact, this game revolutionized competition standards and laid the foundations of what we know as Battle Royale.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (2016) ranks fifth in the top best-selling video games in history with no less than 60 million copies sold.

Super Mario Bros

If we put together the sales figures of all Super Mario games, the saga has sold more than 300 million copies. But let’s first focus on the first game in the saga, the original Super Mario Bros, the one released in 1985.

This Nintendo game ranks sixth with more than 48 million copies sold.

Pokemon Red/Green/Blue/Yellow

Pokémon was first released in 1996 with a series of games that, combined, sold more than 45 million copies.

That’s right: Pokémon Red, Green (which was only sold in Japan), Blue and Yellow sold enough copies to be ranked number seven among the best-selling videogames in history.

Wii Fit

Nintendo took advantage of the Wii console to sneak not only the Wii Sports games but also Wii Fit in the eighth position among the best-selling games in history. 

A game to play sports at home that has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide since its launch in 2007.

Pac-Man

Just like Tetris, Pac-Man (1980) is another classic video game that has slipped into the top 10 best selling videogames in history.

The famous Pac-Man began his adventures as part of Namco’s arcade games only to later have different versions on practically every console and device you can imagine.

To this day, Pac-Man has sold more than 39 million copies since the time it got released.

Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart (2008) in its Wii version closes this top 10 of best-selling videogames. 

The popular racing game, which is based on the most iconic Nintendo characters, has sold 37 million copies to date.

Get training as a video game programmer!

As you have seen, the sales figures for the best-selling video game in history should not be underestimated, especially as proof of how well the video game industry is doing.

You too can be part of this industry. Would you like to work as a video game developer? Well, you are one click away from taking the first step towards a bright future. With Tokyo School’s master’s degree in video game programming, you will be a little closer to achieving your goal.

If you want to learn more, don’t hesitate to contact us! We can’t wait to meet you!