50 Most Popular Video Games of All Time

Video games are a technology-based form of entertainment, with fans eager to advance to the latest, most cutting-edge game. Compared to popular, modern titles such as “Far Cry 5” and “Fortnite,” the plodding simplicity of early games such as Atari’s “Pong” can seem almost naive. These games of the past are no longer flying off the store shelves.

Yet while fans will continue to seek out the newest games, buying them soon upon release, the best-selling games of all time continue to be those that are all-around outstanding. These are the titles that gamers return to despite – in certain cases – outdated aspects such as graphics and gameplay.

To determine the most popular video games of all time, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed unit sales data for over 100,000 video games as provided by research firm VGChartz.

Click here to see the most popular video games of all time.

Many of the games that have sold the absolute most copies are among the oldest. This is due in part to huge sales upon release as well as the titles’ enduring quality compelling new gamers to continue to purchase copies over time. Notable titles include “Duck Hunt” and “Super Mario Bros.” – both of which were released in 1985 – and “Tetris” and “Super Mario Land” – which were launched in 1989.

The video game medium is, and has always been, built on technology, so a large share of the most popular games were released more recently. Actually, 35 of the 50 most popular games appeared after 2005.

Several franchise games also make up a huge segment of the most popular games. These include four Grand Theft Auto titles, eight Pokémon, and 10 Call of Duty games. When publishers such as Rockstar Games, Nintendo, or Activision, find themselves with a hit game, they are likely to follow it up with another – if not many more – in the series.

To identify the most popular games of all time, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the total units sold of over 100,000 video game titles since their respective releases as provided by VGChartz. Sales for titles released across multiple consoles were combined. Data on release dates and publishers also came from VGChartz. Primary console refers to the console for which the most versions of the game in question have been sold.

50. FIFA 17
> Total copies sold: 14,630,000
> Publisher: Electronic Arts
> Primary console: PS4
> Release date: September 27, 2016

49. Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition
> Total copies sold: 14,640,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Game Boy
> Release date: October 19, 1999

48. Mario Kart 7
> Total copies sold: 14,720,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: 3DS
> Release date: December 4, 2011

47. Call of Duty: World at War
> Total copies sold: 14,860,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 10, 2008

45. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
> Total copies sold: 14,980,000
> Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
> Primary console: PS2
> Release date: July 9, 2001

45. Pokémon Sun / Moon
> Total copies sold: 14,980,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: 3DS
> Release date: November 18, 2016

44. Pokémon Black / White Version
> Total copies sold: 15,180,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: DS
> Release date: March 6, 2011

43. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day
> Total copies sold: 15,290,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: DS
> Release date: August 20, 2007

42. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
> Total copies sold: 15,330,000
> Publisher: LucasArts
> Primary console: Wii
> Release date: November 6, 2007

41. Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire Version
> Total copies sold: 15,850,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Game Boy Advance
> Release date: October 17, 2003

40. FIFA 15
> Total copies sold: 15,960,000
> Publisher: EA Sports
> Primary console: PS4
> Release date: September 23, 2014

39. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
> Total copies sold: 16,130,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 5, 2007

38. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
> Total copies sold: 16,150,000
> Publisher: Rockstar Games
> Primary console: PS2
> Release date: October 28, 2002

37. Pokémon X / Y
> Total copies sold: 16,200,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: 3DS
> Release date: October 12, 2013

36. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
> Total copies sold: 16,360,000
> Publisher: RedOctane
> Primary console: PS2
> Release date: October 28, 2007

35. Super Mario Bros. 3
> Total copies sold: 17,280,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: NES
> Release date: February 12, 1990

34. Battlefield 3
> Total copies sold: 17,320,000
> Publisher: Electronic Arts
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: October 25, 2011

33. Super Mario Land
> Total copies sold: 18,140,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Game Boy
> Release date: August 1, 1989

32. Pokémon Diamond / Pearl Version
> Total copies sold: 18,250,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: DS
> Release date: April 28, 2007

31. Call of Duty: WWII
> Total copies sold: 18,620,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: PS4
> Release date: November 3, 2017

30. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
> Total copies sold: 19,320,000
> Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 11, 2011

29. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day
> Total copies sold: 20,160,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: DS
> Release date: April 17, 2006

28. Super Mario World
> Total copies sold: 20,610,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: SNES
> Release date: August 13, 1991

27. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
> Total copies sold: 21,350,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: PS4
> Release date: November 4, 2014

26. Grand Theft Auto IV
> Total copies sold: 21,650,000
> Publisher: Rockstar Games
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: April 29, 2008

25. Wii Fit Plus
> Total copies sold: 21,810,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Wii
> Release date: October 4, 2009

24. Kinect Adventures!
> Total copies sold: 22,090,000
> Publisher: Microsoft
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 4, 2010

23. Wii Fit
> Total copies sold: 22,700,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Wii
> Release date: May 21, 2008

22. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
> Total copies sold: 22,760,000
> Publisher: Rockstar Games
> Primary console: PS2
> Release date: October 26, 2004

21. Pokémon Gold / Silver Version
> Total copies sold: 23,100,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Game Boy
> Release date: October 14, 2000

20. Mario Kart DS
> Total copies sold: 23,260,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: DS
> Release date: November 14, 2005

19. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
> Total copies sold: 24,120,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 10, 2009

18. Nintendogs
> Total copies sold: 24,680,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: DS
> Release date: August 23, 2005

17. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
> Total copies sold: 26,260,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: PS4
> Release date: November 6, 2015

16. Call of Duty: Black Ops
> Total copies sold: 27,410,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 9, 2010

15. Call of Duty: Black Ops II
> Total copies sold: 27,660,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 13, 2012

14. Call of Duty: Ghosts
> Total copies sold: 27,770,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 5, 2013

13. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
> Total copies sold: 28,170,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 8, 2011

12. Duck Hunt
> Total copies sold: 28,310,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: NES
> Release date: October 15, 1985

11. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
> Total copies sold: 28,500,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Wii
> Release date: November 15, 2009

10. Minecraft
> Total copies sold: 28,730,000
> Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: June 4, 2013

9. Wii Play
> Total copies sold: 28,920,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Wii
> Release date: February 12, 2007

8. New Super Mario Bros.
> Total copies sold: 29,850,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: DS
> Release date: May 15, 2006

7. Pokémon Red / Green / Blue Version
> Total copies sold: 31,370,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Game Boy
> Release date: September 30, 1998

6. Wii Sports Resort
> Total copies sold: 32,900,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Wii
> Release date: July 26, 2009

5. Tetris
> Total copies sold: 35,840,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Game Boy
> Release date: June 1, 1989

4. Mario Kart Wii
> Total copies sold: 35,860,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Wii
> Release date: April 27, 2008

3. Super Mario Bros.
> Total copies sold: 45,310,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: NES
> Release date: October 18, 1985

2. Grand Theft Auto V
> Total copies sold: 62,000,000
> Publisher: Rockstar Games
> Primary console: PS3
> Release date: September 17, 2013

1. Wii Sports
> Total copies sold: 82,650,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Wii
> Release date: November 19, 2006

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