50 Most Popular Video Games of All Time
June 6, 2018 by Steven M. PetersVideo 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 These are the titles that gamers return to despite – in certain cases – outdated aspects such as graphics and gameplay.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
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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
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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
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44. Pokémon Black / White Version
> Total copies sold: 15,180,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: DS
> Release date: March 6, 2011
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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
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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
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39. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
> Total copies sold: 16,130,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 5, 2007
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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24. Kinect Adventures!
> Total copies sold: 22,090,000
> Publisher: Microsoft
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 4, 2010
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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
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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
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19. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
> Total copies sold: 24,120,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 10, 2009
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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
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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
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14. Call of Duty: Ghosts
> Total copies sold: 27,770,000
> Publisher: Activision
> Primary console: Xbox 360
> Release date: November 5, 2013
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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
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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
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9. Wii Play
> Total copies sold: 28,920,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Wii
> Release date: February 12, 2007
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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
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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
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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
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1. Wii Sports
> Total copies sold: 82,650,000
> Publisher: Nintendo
> Primary console: Wii
> Release date: November 19, 2006
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