What is the most famous game in the world? Players differ on this depending on their preferences in different genres. However, we all agree on the top 10 games that achieved the highest sales globally. We will mention these games along with the sales and success that each one achieved.
Top 10 Best-Selling Games of All Time
Between Minecraft, Witcher, Mario, and Tetris, games compete for players’ attention and admiration. So, we will now present to you the global ranking of games.
Minecraft
The sandbox game that is extremely popular and loved by players of all ages. Almost every player knows about it or has tried it at some point. In Minecraft, you wander around a world entirely made up of stacked cubes in three dimensions and procedurally generated. What makes Minecraft the most famous game in the world is its unique gameplay that no other simulation game can match. You will extract multiple items, build structures, and devices limited only by your imagination.
- Copies Sold: 300 million copies
- Revenue: Since Microsoft acquired it in 2014, the game has generated profits of up to $2.8 billion.
- Positive Reviews: Millions of reviews across all platforms, including the Microsoft Store and the Play Store, where it has reached four million positive reviews.
Grand Theft Auto 5
The Rockstar masterpiece that gained worldwide popularity. Players in the Arab world call it GTA 5. Grand Theft Auto 5 is an action-adventure open-world game set in the fictional state of San Andreas in Southern California. Its main story revolves around three characters: Franklin, Michael, and Trevor, who undertake multiple missions. The single-player and online modes make GTA the second best-selling game in the world.
- Copies Sold: 200 million copies
- Revenue: Ranked first globally in terms of revenue generated, reaching $8.5 billion.
- Positive Reviews: 1.5 million positive reviews.
Wii Sports
Do you like tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, or boxing? Wii Sports allows you to play all these sports. This game utilizes the Wii controller that senses movements, making it very interactive for sports enthusiasts.
- Copies: 82 million copies, making it one of the top five best-selling games of all time.
- Revenue: Huge unspecified amounts contributed to making the Wii the best-selling gaming console of all time.
- Positive Reviews: Critically acclaimed with good reviews on all platforms.
PUBG Player Unknown Battlegrounds
The most famous mobile game ever, flooding the internet with its news and gameplay videos. As a result, the game has developed its culture and community. More than 100 players can parachute onto an island to search for weapons and fight each other. The safe zone shrinks as the round progresses, and the last one standing wins.
- Copies: By 2024, the game had sold 80 million copies on PC and other platforms, not including the free mobile versions.
- Revenue: The game has achieved unprecedented profits, totaling $9 billion since its release.
- Positive Reviews: Overall, the game has very positive reviews on Steam with 1.5 million positive reviews, but there are also mixed reviews due to issues like cheating and performance problems.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The fantastic racing game featuring all Mario characters like Luigi, Bowser, and Princess Peach. It is full of fun and challenges with elements to boost your speed or give you weapons and much more. This makes it one of the most popular games in the world since its release in the 90s. It includes various modes like Grand Prix, Time Trial, and Battle mode.
- Copies: By 2023, the game had sold over 53 million copies worldwide.
- Revenue: The game’s significant profits have greatly contributed to Nintendo’s success, especially on the Nintendo Switch.
- Positive Reviews: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has a Metacritic score of 92 and massive positive ratings on all platforms.
Red Dead Redemption RDR
An action-adventure game set in the American West and the biggest competitor to GTA 5. The game follows Arthur Morgan’s story in 1899, a member of the Van der Linde gang, struggling to survive in the deteriorating American West. The players love it for its rich story, stunning graphics, gameplay, and the ability to play either solo or online in a detailed open world.
- Copies: 61 million copies by 2024
- Revenue: Within three days of its release, it earned $750 million, making it one of the top 10 best-selling games in history.
- Positive Reviews: 97 on Metacritic along with numerous awards, totaling 175 awards.
Terraria
What is the best-selling simulation game other than Minecraft? Besides Minecraft, there is also the game Terraria. It is a sandbox game that allows players to mine, fight, explore, and shape the world around them. The game is known for its classic pixel art style loved by many players, with a large number of bosses, items, and environments.
- Copies Sold: By 2024, the game had sold 44 million copies.
- Revenue: Not announced, but the game is definitely one of the most successful projects of Re-Logic studio.
- Positive Reviews: The game has over a million positive reviews on the Steam store.
Super Mario Bros
The game that started it all and introduced the character of Mario to the world. Initially released in 1985 for the NES, it spread to almost all platforms, from PC to mobile devices. It tells the story of Mario and his brother Luigi through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool from the evil Bowser. Due to its innovative levels and precise controls, the game became a cornerstone in the gaming industry.
- Copies: 58 million copies worldwide.
- Revenue: The game’s profits exceeded millions of dollars and were almost the reason for all Nintendo’s achievements afterward.
- Reviews: There are countless reviews and critic’s ratings for the game until now.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
A CD Projekt game and the biggest competitor to Skyrim. In this role-playing game released in 2015, the game’s protagonist, Geralt, embarks on a journey to hunt monsters in search of his adopted daughter who has escaped from the Wild Hunt gang. The game’s branching story and massive open world are what sets it apart.
- Copies Sold: 50 million copies by 2023.
- Revenue: In the first half of 2015 alone, the game earned $63.3 million.
- Positive Reviews: 500,000 ratings on Steam.
Tetris Game Boy Edition
Loved by professional and novice players alike, Tetris was initially developed by Alexey Pajitnov and later acquired and adapted by Nintendo for the Game Boy and NES devices, released in 1989. The goal of the game is to arrange falling stone pieces of various shapes into horizontal lines to earn points. The speed of falling blocks increases as you progress through levels, making it almost impossible to win, with only one teenage boy succeeding among millions of players.
- Copies Sold: 35 million copies on NES devices with great success.
- Revenue: Countless amounts from the release of the game on all platforms, making it one of the top 10 best-selling games in history.
- Positive Reviews: Players love Tetris for its difficulty and great challenge despite its simple rules.
Our list today in the gaming arena satisfies all tastes from classic game lovers to simulation and action games enthusiasts. If you are a fan of indie games, we recommend checking out the top 10 indie games of 2024.