The gaming world now has countless games that you can purchase to pass the time. However, only a few belong to the most successful in the world. Therefore, we present to you the best-selling titles in gaming history.
What games are on the list? In our list, we will enumerate the 10 best-selling games in the world. The focus here is primarily on the number of copies sold, not the actual revenue generated.
For those who are wondering: Tetris has been deliberately excluded. Although the brand is regarded as the “best-selling” (up to 400 million units), this figure counts all the various titles that have ever been released. Let us now proceed to our listing.
Rank 10: Super Mario Bros.
On September 13, 1985, Super Mario Bros. was released for the Famicom and NES and made a huge splash in terms of sales figures. To date, the game has sold 58 million copies and thus ranks 10th.
Rank 9: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Of course, one of the most well-known RPGs cannot be missing from the list: The Witcher 3. The game was not only very successful with over 60 million copies sold, but it also enjoys a strong reputation among role-playing fans. Its immersive game world and quests allowed CD Projekt Red to win the award for Game of the Year at the Game Awards 2015.
Rank 8: Skyrim
Not surprising and represented in many a player’s collection three or four times is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. According to an IGN interview conducted in 2023 with Bethesda head Todd Howard (source: YouTube.com), the RPG has sold over 60 million copies. Skyrim has been released in enhanced versions several times, always on the next modern consoles. So it’s no wonder that this game is also in the top 10.
Rank 7: Terraria
One of the most well-known sandbox games must not be missing either: Terraria. The 2D Minecraft can boast up to 64 million copies sold, placing it ahead of Skyrim and The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt.
Even though Terraria’s developers have stated that no new updates will be released, there are still frequently new contents that fans can look forward to. It is quite possible that Terraria could rise in the list.
Rank 6: PUBG
The origin of battle royales and the biggest competitor of Fortnite, PUBG, has also made it to the list. The game is now known to many fans as a Free2Play title, but before this step, the title was sold for some money on various platforms – and that quite a lot. Overall, the shooter has sold up to 75 million copies (source: theverge.com).
Rank 5: Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar Games never disappoints, and when it comes to Red Dead Redemption 2, they certainly do not. The gripping story of the Outlaw gang has impressed players worldwide, and looking at the 77 million sales (source: gamingbolt.com), that is quite a few players. A sequel is also planned, but currently, the studio’s focus is more on the development of GTA 6.
Rank 4: Mario Kart 8
Mario Kart 8 is among the most popular racing games in the genre, which is also reflected in its sales figures. The title has sold over 77 million copies. Thus, Nintendo already has 2 games in the top 10, but another game is also still in the running.
Rank 3: Wii Sports
Wii Sports is an old sports game for the Wii and has caused its fair share of destroyed TVs or broken decorations. The Japanese company managed to sell over 82 million units. That looks gigantic. However, many Wii consoles were bundled with this title – and the Wii, as is well known, sold like hotcakes.
Rank 2: GTA 5
GTA 5 has sold over 215 million copies worldwide, placing it at Rank 2 on the list. The reasons for its sales are not only the outstanding story surrounding the 3 protagonists of the game. Above all, it is GTA Online that has been able to keep many fans engaged over many years. No wonder that GTA 6 is among the most anticipated games at all, causing many developers from other studios to tremble – especially when they think of the release window for GTA 6.
Rank 1: Minecraft
Anyone who has not purchased Minecraft so far has at least heard of it. The famous game with the big blocks and the endless possibilities to unleash one’s imagination ranks first in our list. The sandbox game has sold up to 350 million copies. And as the game is timeless and continues to be developed, the trend is upwards.
This was our list of the 10 best-selling games in the gaming industry. Did you expect such a result, or did you have other games in mind? Admit it, you probably own at least one of these games in your library. We also have a similar list regarding MMORPGs in terms of player numbers: The 15 MMORPGs with the most players according to official numbers from the developers
