Games studios strive to create breathtaking worlds, memorable characters, and compelling narratives, but ultimately, game sales are the name of the game. Without them, studios can’t develop their visions and create these amazing experiences.
When taking a look at the highest-selling video game series of all time, one thing stands out: diversity. There isn’t an overwhelming majority of a specific genre and there’s a good balance between single and multiplayer games. Here are the games that have sold the most copies in video game history.
10 Lego ~200M
Since 1962, parents have experienced excruciating pain stepping on discarded Lego pieces scattered across their homes. In 1995, the company began developing video games based on the building blocks for some of their internal properties, like Bionicle and Ninjago. But it was in 2005 that the Lego game concept hit a new high with Lego Star Wars.
After Star Wars, The Lego Group continued to develop pop culture properties like Harry Potter, Marvel, and even Indiana Jones into adorable blocky platformers. The Lego games have garnered high praise for their gameplay and surprising sophistication, as the studio has sold around 200 million copies to date.
9 The Sims ~200M
One of the amazing things about video games is being able to escape your reality. You can fight dragons, travel in space, or have a family in the suburbs. That’s right, The Sims’ life simulation games have sold a whopping 200 million copies since 2000, making it one of the most successful video game series in history.
The Sims has appeared on virtually every platform, drastically increasing the overall player base. Recently, developer Maxis has been determined to strive for full inclusion and representation, as the studio has updated The Sims 4 to include a wide range of skin tones and gender-neutral clothing. While there’s still plenty of work to do for more diversity, these updates are a solid step forward.
8 Wii Series ~202M
When the Nintendo Wii launched in 2006, it was arguably one of the most unique consoles in history. With built-in motion sensors, Nintendo was pushing the envelope on innovation and creating new ways to play games. Other than in Japan, Australia, and Europe, the Wii launched with Wii Sports, which helped fuel the sales of the console. Wii Sports was later sold separately in those regions.
Wii Sports received tremendous praise and is regarded as one of the best games ever made. It included five different sports activities: baseball, boxing, tennis, golf, and bowling. The success of Wii Sports led to Wii Fit and Wii Play, and with it, Nintendo struck gold on another series that sold 202 million copies.
7 Minecraft ~238M
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
If the sandbox genre existed before Minecraft, then the blocky game elevated it to new heights. Developed by Mojang Studios and launched in 2011, Minecraft offers an infinite world that’s oozing creative juices. Over the years, players have built stunning structures from the Big Ben clocktower in London to Hogwarts castle.
Seeing the success Minecraft was experiencing on both a recreational and educational level, Microsoft purchased the property and Mojang Studios in 2014 for $2.5 billion. Minecraft has appeared on nearly every console since the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 era, leading to about 238 million copies sold in its lifetime.
6 Fifa ~325M
The only sports series featured, Fifa continues to dominate game sales with each iteration. It’s arguably the most realistic sports game in terms of gameplay and player ratings. Given that soccer is the biggest sport in the world, it’s not necessarily a huge surprise that Fifa would find itself among the top sellers in video game history.
As of 2020, Fifa 15 is considered the best-selling game of the series with approximately 18 million copies sold. With roughly 325 million copies sold overall, Fifa has experienced an unprecedented level of consistency in its game sales if its best-selling game only accounts for about 5.5 percent of the total copies sold franchise-wide.
5 Grand Theft Auto ~335M
Initially launched in 1997, the Grand Theft Auto series has positioned itself as one of the most influential and impactful series in video game history. Grand Theft Auto 3 was the blueprint that numerous third-person shooters took inspiration from, as well as San Andreas and Vice City being huge hits in their own rights.
Ironically, the total lifetime sales of Grand Theft Auto continue to increase — but through the same game. The latest installment, Grand Theft Auto 5, originally launched on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2013 but has since been ported to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game is also slated for a next-gen console release in 2021 that will probably guarantee a few more million copies sold.
4 Pokemon ~368M
The era of pocket monsters has been a successful one for Nintendo. Since the original Red & Blue versions, Pokemon has sold 368 million copies across mostly handheld consoles. The success of Red and Blue pushed for an anime adaptation of Pokemon that has elevated the entire brand to astronomical heights.
Recently, Pokemon has seen drastic changes in its central gameplay, including full 3D models, open-world elements, and more. Fans of the series have clamored for a full-fledged RPG in the Pokemon world, and soon, their dreams will become a reality. An upcoming entry in the franchise, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, is a departure from the main series in many ways, including the fact that it's an open-world RPG-style game.
3 Call of Duty ~400M
One of the greatest first-person shooters in history, Call of Duty has held a vice gripe on commercial sales dating back to 2003. The series has sold a whopping 400 million units in nearly two decades, and although the series has grown a bit stale, it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
The next entry in the series will take players back to World War 2 in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
2 Tetris ~495M
If you think of some of the most iconic video games in existence, it’s hard to omit Tetris. Launched in Russia initially before coming to North America in 1988, Tetris is a simple game that requires quick thinking and decision-making in matching the block pieces as they fall from the top.
Tetris has appeared on over 65 different platforms, which is a Guinness world record. Across those many platforms, Tetris has sold 495 million copies. Other than game sales, Tetris was also featured in the 2015 film Pixels that starred Adam Sandler and Kevin James.
1 Mario ~740M
The highest-selling video game series belongs to everyone’s favorite Italian plumber, Mario. Nintendo’s mascot was first introduced in 1981 simply as “Jump Man,” but soon received his own game and subsequent series in Super Mario Bros. Throughout his decorated history, Mario has gone to great lengths in stopping Bowser from seizing control of the Mushroom Kingdom.
With countless entries in the overarching franchise, Mario has sold a total of roughly 740 million units, earning the title of being the greatest selling series in video game history. Mario’s continued dominance in game sales speaks volumes on the level of consistent quality found in the series and proves that Nintendo’s plumber is arguably the most popular video game character ever.