Ever wonder which video games have sold the most copies in history? The gaming world has seen some huge hits, with Minecraft alone selling over 300 million copies since its release.
This blog will rank the top 10 best-selling video games ever and explain why they became so popular. Get ready to see if your favorite made the list!
Tetris - 520 Million Copies Sold
Tetris tops the charts with a mind-blowing 520 million copies sold worldwide. This block-stacking puzzle game first hit the scene on June 6, 1984, thanks to Russian developer Alexey Pajitnov.
The Game Boy version alone sold 35 million copies, making it a huge hit for portable gaming. People of all ages fell in love with the simple yet hard-to-master gameplay where falling blocks must be arranged in complete lines.
Tetris is not just a game, it’s a perfect puzzle. – Alexey Pajitnov
The success of Tetris comes from its easy-to-learn rules and its presence on almost every gaming platform ever made. From old Game Boys to modern smartphones, Tetris has found its way to players everywhere.
The game’s catchy music and colorful blocks have stuck in our minds for decades. Next up is Minecraft, another gaming giant that has built its own massive empire in the gaming world.
Minecraft - 300 Million Copies Sold
Minecraft sits at the top of gaming history with over 300 million copies sold since its release on November 18, 2011. This block-building game from Mojang Studios lets players create almost anything they can think of.
Kids build simple homes while adults make working computers inside the game. The game works on almost every device, from phones to Xbox consoles to Nintendo Switch. Its simple looks hide a deep world where players can fight monsters, grow crops, or just build all day.
The game keeps growing with new updates that add fresh things to do. Microsoft bought Mojang Studios for $2.5 billion in 2014, showing how valuable the game had become. Schools now use Minecraft to teach subjects like math and history.
The game has also sparked toys, clothes, books, and even a movie deal. Grand Theft Auto V comes next on our list with its massive open world that broke sales records too.
Grand Theft Auto V - 200 Million Copies Sold
Grand Theft Auto V sits proudly as the second best-selling video game ever. Rockstar North created this action game that has sold a massive 215 million copies since its launch on September 17, 2013.
Players love to roam the open world of Los Santos, pull off heists, and cause chaos. The game keeps growing with GTA Online, which adds new content all the time.
Rockstar Games struck gold with this title across many platforms. From Xbox 360 to PlayStation 5, the game found new fans with each console jump. Its mix of story, freedom, and online play keeps people buying it years after release.
Next, we’ll look at Wii Sports, a game that came free with Nintendo’s hit console.
Wii Sports - 82. 9 Million Copies Sold
Wii Sports smashed records as the top single-platform game ever, with a stunning 82.9 million copies sold. Nintendo packed this game with every Wii console when it launched on November 19, 2006.
Players loved swinging their arms to hit tennis balls and bowl strikes in their living rooms. The simple controls made it easy for grandmas and little kids to play together.
Wii Sports changed how families play games together – it brought motion controls to the masses.
This game turned many non-gamers into fans overnight. The five sports, tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, and boxing, gave families hours of fun. Nintendo struck gold by making a game that anyone could pick up and play in minutes.
Its success helped the Wii beat both Xbox and PlayStation in sales during that console generation.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) - 75 Million Copies Sold
PUBG took the gaming world by storm with its battle royale action. Players drop onto an island and fight until only one remains. PUBG Studios released this hit game on December 20, 2017, and it sold a massive 75 million copies before going free-to-play in January 2022.
The game changed how we play shooters forever. Its success led to many other battle royale games trying to copy its formula.
Krafton, the publisher, saw PUBG grow into a global craze across PC, consoles, and mobile devices. PUBG Mobile became even more popular in many countries. The game mixes survival skills with shooting action in a way that keeps players coming back for more.
Fans love the rush of finding better gear and outsmarting opponents. Next on our list is Mario Kart 8 + Deluxe, another gaming giant that races past the competition with over 70 million copies sold.
Mario Kart 8 + Deluxe - 70. 43 Million Copies Sold
Mario Kart 8 zoomed past the finish line with huge success. Nintendo’s racing game sold a massive 76.66 million copies since its launch on May 29, 2014. First on Wii U and later on Nintendo Switch, this game lets players race as Bowser, Princess Peach, and other famous characters.
The tracks twist and turn in crazy ways that break the rules of gravity.
Fans love the bright colors and fun multiplayer races. The Deluxe version added new racers and battle modes that made the game even better. This helped Mario Kart 8 stay popular across two console generations.
The Booster Pass added even more tracks, giving players fresh reasons to keep racing. No other kart racing game comes close to these sales numbers.
Red Dead Redemption 2 - 64 Million Copies Sold
While Mario Kart races ahead with its colorful tracks, Red Dead Redemption 2 takes players to the wild west. This cowboy adventure from Rockstar Games hit stores on October 26, 2018.
Players love the open world where they can ride horses, hunt animals, and live as an outlaw. The game tells the story of Arthur Morgan in a world that feels real and alive.
The numbers don’t lie about this game’s success. Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold 74 million copies as of March 2024. Fans praise its rich story and big map to explore. Rockstar Games spent years making every detail perfect, from muddy roads to snowy mountains.
The online mode lets friends play together as cowboys or bounty hunters. This mix of single-player depth and online fun keeps players coming back for more wild west action.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - 60 Million Copies Sold
Skyrim has sold a massive 60 million copies since its launch on November 11, 2011. Bethesda Game Studios created a world full of dragons, magic, and endless quests that players still love today.
The game lets you play as a hero who can shout dragons out of the sky. You can join groups like the Thieves Guild or fight in a civil war. Todd Howard and his team made a game so big that fans keep finding new things years later.
Bethesda Softworks published this hit on many systems, which helped its sales grow. First on Xbox and PlayStation, it later came to Nintendo Switch too. The game has mountains to climb, caves to explore, and towns full of people with stories to tell.
Fans often joke about buying Skyrim many times as it moved to new game systems. Its success shows how open-world games with player choice can win hearts for years and years.
Terraria - 58. 7 Million Copies Sold
Terraria has dug its way into gaming history with a massive 64 million copies sold as of July 2024. This 2D sandbox game from Re-Logic hit the market on May 16, 2011, and players can’t get enough of its mix of building, fighting, and exploring.
The game lets you shape your own world block by block, much like Minecraft but with a side-scrolling twist.
Re-Logic both made and sold the game, with 505 Games helping to spread it to more players around the world. What makes Terraria stand out is how it keeps growing with free updates years after launch.
Fans love the game for its deep crafting system, tough boss fights, and the freedom to play your way. Its low price and ability to run on almost any computer helped it reach millions of gamers who might have missed out on bigger titles.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - 50 Million Copies Sold
Moving from the block-building world of Terraria, we enter the monster-filled lands of The Witcher 3. This game puts players in the boots of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter with special powers.
CD Projekt Red created this hit that sold over 60 million copies since its launch on May 18, 2015.
The Witcher 3 won fans with its deep story and huge open world. Players can fight monsters, make tough choices, and change how the story ends. The game lets you explore on horseback across war-torn lands and sail to far islands.
Its success made CD Projekt a big name in gaming and turned The Witcher into a Netflix show too. Fans love the mix of action, story, and the many side quests that fill this fantasy world.
Why These Games Stand Out in Gaming History
After The Witcher 3’s amazing success, we can see why these top games made history. These giants stand tall for good reasons. Minecraft leads the pack with 300 million copies sold, making it the top video game ever.
GTA 5 broke records by earning $1 billion faster than any other product. Tetris helped make Game Boy a hit in homes across the world. Wii Sports won the race for single-platform sales.
These games didn’t just sell well, they changed how we play. They brought new ideas that others now copy. PUBG made battle royale games hot. Skyrim showed us open worlds could feel alive.
The Witcher 3 proved story matters in games too.
These top sellers share some key traits. They work on many systems, so more people can play them. Minecraft runs on almost any device you own. Most offer fresh takes on old ideas. Mario Kart 8 took racing fun to new heights with wild tracks and items.
They also stay fun for years, not just weeks. Rockstar Games keeps adding to GTA Online, so players stick around. Plus, these hits connect with people who don’t usually play games.
Wii Sports got grandmas bowling in living rooms. Terraria built a huge fan base through word of mouth. The best games don’t just sell well once, they keep selling as new players discover them year after year.
The Impact of Platform Availability on Sales
Games that stand out in history often reach more players through smart platform choices. Platform availability plays a huge role in video game sales numbers. Tetris tops our list with 520 million copies because it exists on almost every device made since the 1980s.
Wii Sports sold 82.9 million copies despite being on just one console, the Nintendo Wii. This shows how being a pack-in game, included with every system, can boost sales. Mario Kart 8 proved this strategy works across platforms too.
The game first launched on Wii U, then got a second life as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch. This dual-platform approach helped it reach 70.43 million sales total.
Game makers must pick platforms wisely. PUBG hit 75 million paid copies before going free-to-play, showing how PC and console releases can build a strong base. Grand Theft Auto V sold 200 million copies partly because Rockstar Games put it on two console generations plus PC.
The game launched on Xbox 360 and PS3, then moved to Xbox One and PS4, and finally to next-gen systems. Each new platform brought fresh players and sales. Minecraft works on phones, tablets, computers, and all major game systems, helping it reach 300 million sales.
Games that stay locked to one system often miss out on millions of potential buyers.
The Role of Gameplay Innovation in Success
Game makers who try new things often hit the jackpot. Look at Tetris with its simple blocks that hook players for hours. Minecraft broke the mold by letting folks build anything they want in a world made of cubes.
No rules, just pure fun. GTA V mixed driving, shooting, and story in a huge city where players can do almost anything. Wii Sports changed how we play by making us stand up and swing our arms.
These fresh ideas turned good games into legends.
Sales numbers show that taking risks pays off big time. PUBG brought 100 players to fight on one map and sold 75 million copies. The Witcher 3 let players make tough choices that changed the story and hit 50 million sales.
Mario Kart 8 kept the fun racing but added anti-gravity tracks to spice things up. New ideas grab attention, but they must be fun too. Games that mix old comfort with new twists often race to the top of the charts.
Players crave something different but still want to feel at home.
How Cultural Phenomena Boosted Their Popularity
Many top games got huge boosts from things outside gaming. Minecraft jumped from a simple block game to a global hit thanks to YouTube videos and school programs. Kids built amazing worlds and shared them online.
Teachers saw how it helped students learn math and teamwork. Soon, Minecraft wasn’t just a game but a tool in classrooms across the world. Microsoft noticed this trend and bought Mojang Studios for $2.5 billion in 2014.
The game’s simple look and deep play options made it perfect for this cultural leap from entertainment to education.
Grand Theft Auto V rode waves of buzz from news stories about its adult content. Parents worried while teens wanted it more. The game got free ads when TV shows talked about its violence.
Rockstar Games used this attention to sell more copies. Wii Sports broke into homes that never played games before. Its easy controls let grandparents play with grandkids. Tetris crossed borders during the Cold War, bringing Soviet-made fun to Western players.
Alexey Pajitnov’s simple puzzle game showed how play connects people across political lines. These games didn’t just sell well, they changed how we think about what games can do in our lives.
Lessons for Future Game Developers
Game makers can learn a lot from hits like Minecraft and GTA V. First, new gameplay ideas win big prizes. Tetris showed this with simple blocks that hooked millions. Next, putting games on many systems helps sales grow fast.
Minecraft started on PC but now runs on phones, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. Smart developers also keep their games fresh with updates. GTA Online still gets new content years after launch, which keeps players coming back.
Todd Howard and the Bethesda team proved this works with Skyrim’s many versions. The most successful titles also tap into what people care about. Battle royale games like PUBG caught fire because they matched what gamers wanted at just the right time.
Community matters too. Games with strong player bases last longer and sell more copies. Mojang Studios listens to Minecraft players. CD Projekt Red fixed The Witcher 3 based on feedback.
Good developers build games that people can play their own way. This explains why open worlds like Red Dead Redemption 2 do so well. The best games also work for different skill levels, from beginners to experts.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe shows this perfectly with its racing aids for new players. These lessons point to one truth: great games connect with people in ways that last far beyond the first play.
Bottom Line
These top games show us what players love most. From block puzzles to open worlds, each hit found its way into our hearts for good reason. Tetris keeps us hooked with simple rules while Minecraft lets us build anything we dream up.
The mix of great stories, fun play, and smart marketing helped these titles sell millions. Some games made it big on one system, while others won fans across many platforms. The lesson is clear: make something fun that speaks to people, and they will come back for more.
These games didn’t just sell well, they changed how we play forever.
