List of best-selling video games explained

This is a list of fifty video games that have globally sold the highest number of software units. The best-selling video game to date is Minecraft, a 2011 sandbox game released by Mojang for multiple platforms, eventually selling more than 300 million copies in 2023. Grand Theft Auto V is the only other video game known to have sold over 100 million and 200 million copies. The best-selling single platform game is Wii Sports, with nearly 83 million sales solely for the Wii console.

Among these best-selling video games on this list, over half of them were developed or published by Nintendo; four Nintendo titles were published with their affiliate, The Pokémon Company. Other publishers with multiple entries on the list include Activision with six games, Rockstar Games with four games, and Blizzard Entertainment and CD Projekt with two games each. Nintendo EAD is the developer with the most games on the list, with thirteen games, followed by Game Freak with six Pokémon games. The oldest game on this list is Duck Hunt, released in April 1984, while the most recent is Hogwarts Legacy, released in February 2023.

Title! scope="col"
SalesSeriesPlatform(s)Initial release date Developer(s)Publisher(s)
scope=rowMinecraft300,000,000MinecraftMulti-platformMojang StudiosMojang Studios / Xbox Game Studios[1] [2]
scope=rowGrand Theft Auto V205,000,000Grand Theft AutoMulti-platformRockstar NorthRockstar Games[3]
scope=rowWii Sports82,900,000WiiWiiNintendo EADNintendo[4]
scope=row75,000,000PUBG UniverseMulti-platformPUBG StudiosKrafton[5]
scope=rowMario Kart 8 / Deluxe72,730,000Mario KartWii U / SwitchNintendo EAD / Nintendo EPD (Deluxe)Nintendo
scope=rowRed Dead Redemption 267,000,000Red DeadMulti-platformRockstar GamesRockstar Games
scope=rowTerraria60,700,000NoneMulti-platformRe-LogicRe-Logic / 505 Games[6]
scope=rowSuper Mario Bros.58,000,000Super MarioMulti-platformNintendo R&D4Nintendo
scope=row55,000,000NoneMulti-platformNo Brakes GamesCurve Digital[7]
scope=rowOverwatch50,000,000OverwatchMulti-platformBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment[8]
scope=rowThe WitcherMulti-platformCD Projekt RedCD Projekt[9]
scope=rowPokémon Red / Green / Blue / Yellow47,520,000PokémonMulti-platformGame FreakNintendo
scope=row46,450,000Animal CrossingNintendo SwitchNintendo EPDNintendo
scope=rowWii Fit / Plus43,800,000WiiWiiNintendo EADNintendo
scope=row43,000,000Call of DutyMulti-platformTreyarchActivision
Stardew Valley41,000,000NoneMulti-platformConcernedApeChucklefish / ConcernedApe[10]
Call of Duty: Modern WarfareCall of DutyMulti-platformInfinity WardActivision[11]
scope=rowMario Kart Wii37,380,000Mario KartWiiNintendo EADNintendo
scope=rowSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate35,140,000Super Smash Bros.Nintendo SwitchBandai Namco Studios / Sora Ltd.Nintendo
scope=row35,000,000TetrisGame BoyNintendo R&D1Nintendo<--The source cites that Tetris sold 520 million units but it speaks to the franchise as a whole across every port and platform, making Tetris a game series. Rather than counting the entire series as a single game, the series' highest selling entries are included on this list, separate from each other.-->[12]
scope=row33,990,000The Legend of ZeldaWii U / SwitchNintendo EPDNintendo
scope=rowWii Sports Resort33,140,000WiiWiiNintendo EADNintendo
scope=rowNew Super Mario Bros.30,800,000Super MarioNintendo DSNintendo EADNintendo[13]
scope=rowNew Super Mario Bros. Wii30,320,000Super MarioWiiNintendo EADNintendo
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War30,000,000Call of DutyMulti-platformTreyarch / Raven SoftwareActivision
scope=rowCyberpunk 2077CyberpunkMulti-platformCD Projekt RedCD Projekt[14]
Diablo IIIDiabloMulti-platformBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment[15]
Hogwarts LegacyWizarding WorldMulti-platformAvalanche SoftwareWarner Bros. Games[16]
scope=rowPokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal29,490,000PokémonGame Boy ColorGame FreakNintendo
scope=rowElden Ring28,600,000Elden RingMulti-platformFromSoftwareBandai Namco[17]
Super Mario Odyssey28,500,000Super MarioNintendo SwitchNintendo EPDNintendo
scope=rowDuck Hunt28,300,000NoneFamicom / NESNintendo R&D1Nintendo[18]
scope=rowWii Play28,020,000WiiWiiNintendo EADNintendo
scope=rowThe Walking Dead28,000,000The Walking DeadMulti-platformTelltale GamesTelltale Games[19]
scope=rowBorderlands 2BorderlandsMulti-platformGearbox Software2K Games[20]
scope=row27,500,000Grand Theft AutoMulti-platformRockstar NorthRockstar Games[21]
scope=rowSuper Mario World26,662,500Super MarioMulti-platformNintendo EADNintendo
New Super Mario Bros. U / Luigi U / Deluxe26,660,000Super MarioWii U / SwitchNintendo EADNintendo
scope=row26,500,000Call of DutyMulti-platformInfinity Ward / SledgehammerActivision[22]
Pokémon Sword / Shield26,440,000PokémonNintendo SwitchGame FreakNintendo / The Pokémon Company
scope=rowFIFA 1826,400,000FIFAMulti-platformEA VancouverEA Sports
scope=row26,200,000Call of DutyMulti-platformTreyarchActivision
Pokémon Scarlet / Violet25,690,000PokémonNintendo SwitchGame FreakNintendo / The Pokémon Company
scope=rowGarry's Mod25,560,000NonePCFacepunch StudiosValve[23]
scope=rowPokémon Sun / Moon / Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon25,540,000PokémonNintendo 3DSGame FreakNintendo / The Pokémon Company
scope=rowGrand Theft Auto IV25,000,000Grand Theft AutoMulti-platformRockstar NorthRockstar Games[24]
scope=rowMonster HunterMulti-platformCapcomCapcom[25]
scope=rowPokémon Diamond / Pearl / Platinum24,730,000PokémonNintendo DSGame FreakNintendo / The Pokémon Company
scope=rowSuper Mario Bros. 324,430,000Super MarioMulti-platformNintendo EADNintendo
scope=row24,200,000Call of DutyMulti-platformTreyarchActivision

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zachary Boddy . 2023-10-15 . Minecraft crosses 300 million copies sold as it prepares to celebrate its 15th anniversary . 2023-10-15 . Windows Central . en . October 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231015182946/https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/minecraft/minecraft-crosses-300-million-copies-sold-as-it-prepares-to-celebrate-its-15th-anniversary . live .
  2. Web site: Ash . Parrish . Minecraft has sold over 300 million copies . . October 15, 2023 . October 16, 2023 . October 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231015232557/https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/15/23916349/minecraft-mojang-sold-300-million-copies-live-2023 . live .
  3. Web site: Take-Two hits targets for September quarter with $1.47B in net bookings . Takahashi . Dean . Dean Takahashi . . November 6, 2024 . November 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241106220704/https://venturebeat.com/games/take-two-hits-targets-for-september-quarter-with-1-47b-in-net-bookings/ . November 6, 2024 . live .
  4. Web site: Sales Data – Top Selling Title Sales Units – Wii Software . . March 31, 2022 . May 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171219181140/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/wii.html . December 19, 2017 . live .
  5. Web site: Peters. Jay. 2021-12-09. The original PUBG is going free-to-play. 2022-02-01. The Verge. en. February 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220201120543/https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/9/22821220/pubg-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-free-to-play-release-date. live.
  6. Web site: Terraria State of the Game - October 2024 . Murphy . Ted . Terraria Forums . October 31, 2024 . December 7, 2024 . November 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241108233216/https://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads/terraria-state-of-the-game-october-2024.139253/ . live .
  7. Web site: Indie platformer Human Fall Flat has sold a colossal 55 million copies. Jamie. Hore. PCGamesN. January 31, 2025. January 31, 2025.
  8. News: Activision's Overwatch 2 Is Redefining the Sequel. Cecilia. D'Anastasio. Bloomberg News. April 29, 2022. June 5, 2023. April 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220429215753/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-04-29/activision-blizzard-s-overwatch-2-game-is-a-lot-like-the-original-review. live.
  9. May 29, 2023. PC Gamer. Rick. Lane. The Witcher 3 has sold 50 million copies. October 11, 2024.
  10. Web site: Stardew Valley - Press. December 29, 2024. October 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211012104750/https://www.stardewvalley.net/press/. live.
  11. Web site: Totilo . Stephen . Call of Duty's massive development budgets revealed: $700 million for Black Ops Cold War . 2025-01-07 . www.gamefile.news . en . January 11, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250111043043/https://www.gamefile.news/p/call-of-duty-budgets-development-costs-black-ops-modern-warfare . live .
  12. Web site: Tetris® By The Numbers . . December 6, 2024 . December 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241206233755/https://tetris.com/by-the-numbers . live .
  13. Web site: Sales Data – Top Selling Title Sales Units – Nintendo DS Software . . March 31, 2022 . May 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170425225159/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/ds.html . April 25, 2017 . live .
  14. Cyberpunk 2077 and the Phantom Liberty expansion have sold over 38 million copies . Rich . Stanton . November 27, 2024 . . 1080-4471 . en . January 9, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250109003954/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/cyberpunk-2077-and-the-phantom-liberty-expansion-have-sold-over-38-million-copies/ . January 9, 2025 . live.
    Web site: New Cyberpunk Netflix animation confirmed as 2077 tops 30 million sales . Tom . Ivan . November 26, 2024 . . en . December 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241226023136/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/new-cyberpunk-netflix-animation-announced-as-2077-tops-30-million-sales/ . December 26, 2024 . live.
  15. Web site: Diablo 3 lifetime sales top 30 million units . Samit . Sarker . . August 4, 2015 . August 5, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150806163842/http://www.polygon.com/2015/8/4/9097497/diablo-3-sales-30-million-units . August 6, 2015 . live .
  16. Web site: Yossman . Jennifer Maas, K J. . 2024-11-05 . 'Harry Potter' 2.0: How Warner Bros. Plans to Keep the Magic Alive With a New HBO Series, Video Games and Pricey Merch . 2024-11-05 . Variety . en-US.
  17. Web site: Persson . Marcus . 2024-12-15 . Hidetaka Miyazaki's masterpiece reaches 28.6 million copies sold . 2024-12-15 . Gamereactor UK . en . December 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241215205053/https://www.gamereactor.eu/hidetaka-miyazakis-masterpiece-reaches-286-million-copies-sold-1467873/ . live .
  18. Web site: 1984: Duck Hunt – The Best Selling Video Game Of Every Year Since 1977 . Welch . Hanuman . . April 23, 2013 . April 26, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170424174120/http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/04/the-best-video-games-to-come-out-every-year-since-the-atari-2600/duck-hunt . April 24, 2017 . live .
  19. Web site: Telltale Games' Shut Down and 'Revival,' Explained . IGN . December 13, 2019 . August 14, 2022 . Matt . Kim . August 14, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220814061205/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/12/13/telltale-games-shut-down-and-revival-explained . live .
  20. Web site: February 8, 2024 . Q3 2024 Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Earnings Conference Call Investor Presentation - February 2024 . February 10, 2024 . Take 2 Games . February 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240209022651/https://ir.take2games.com/static-files/f3fdf5c5-663b-4ac2-8924-d63dc410c60a . live .
  21. Web site: From 1997–2013: How the Grand Theft Auto series has evolved . . September 13, 2013 . April 26, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150213204138/http://www.itv.com/news/2013-09-13/a-brief-history-of-the-grand-theft-auto-series/ . February 13, 2015 . live .
  22. Web site: Call of Duty: A Short History . . April 26, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172825/http://microsites.ign.com/call-of-duty-a-short-history/ . March 3, 2016 . live .
  23. Web site: Yin-Poole . Wesley . 2024-11-29 . Garry's Mod Has Sold an Incredible 25.4 Million Copies, Is the Best-Selling PC Exclusive of All-Time . 2024-11-30 . IGN . en . November 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241129214724/https://www.ign.com/articles/garrys-mod-has-sold-an-incredible-254-million-copies-is-the-best-selling-pc-exclusive-of-all-time . live .
  24. News: GTA 5 has already beaten GTA 4's lifetime sales . Vincent . James . . October 7, 2013 . April 26, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170426152753/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/gaming/gta-5-has-already-beaten-gta-4s-lifetime-sales-8863784.html . April 26, 2017 . live .
  25. Web site: Monster Hunter: World reaches 25m sales worldwide . Liv . Ngan . 2024-03-12 . 2024-03-13 . . March 12, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240312123634/https://www.eurogamer.net/monster-hunter-world-reaches-25m-sales-worldwide . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of best-selling video games".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.