The 16 Best-Selling Video Games of All Time

The iconic dot-munching Pac-Man remains one of gaming's most timeless classics 40 years after debuting in arcades in 1980. With its simple maze-chase gameplay, Pac-Man appealed to all gamers and became a quarter-guzzling sensation through the 80s. Its strategic ghost evasion and lovable characters made Pac-Man hugely influential on game design. The original Pac-Man is one of the most successful and iconic arcade games ever made, and even decades later, Pac-Man's retro maze-chase action remains a delightful gaming blast, cementing its status as a forever classic.

Selling over 42 million copies, Animal Crossing: New Horizons in March 2020, just when the COVID-19 pandemic started forcing global lockdowns. Its lighthearted gameplay of building an island oasis with cute animal friends offered the perfect relaxing escape during the early days of lockdown. New Horizons propelled the Animal Crossing series to new heights of popularity, selling more copies than the rest of the Animal Crossing series combined. The game's uplifting nature and impeccable timing certify it as an iconic release that gave millions of unforgettable memories to gamers during an unprecedented crisis, which is why it managed to become one of the best-selling video games of all time.

With 2007's Wii Fit, Nintendo successfully married interactive gaming with engaging at-home workouts. Using the Wii Balance Board, players could participate in yoga, strength training, and aerobics presented as fun minigames right in their living room. 2009's Wii Fit Plus built on that formula with new activities and features to keep the momentum going. Together the Wii Fit titles sold a staggering 43 million copies worldwide, leveraging Nintendo's welcoming approach to attract new audiences. The blockbuster success of Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus exemplified Nintendo's innovative spirit and ability to transform gaming into a welcoming family-friendly fitness activity.

The 2D sandbox game Terraria took pixel art to new levels when it launched in 2011, delivering expansive crafting and exploration while Minecraft was still in beta. Players could extensively customize their character and freely build voxel worlds teeming with monsters, loot, and adventure. Developer Re-Logic continually updates Terraria with massive content additions like new biomes and hundreds of items. Blending the combat of Minecraft with Metroidvania-style progression, Terraria crafted a winning formula across PCs and consoles. With over 44 million copies sold, the deep 2D world of Terraria cemented itself as a sandbox masterpiece that still holds up to this day.

The Pokémon franchise took the world by storm when the original Red and Green versions launched in Japan in 1996, followed by Red and Blue internationally. These classic Game Boy RPGs introduced beloved Pokémon like Pikachu and allowed players to catch 'em all for the first time. Capitalizing on the hype, 1998's Pokémon Yellow catered to anime fans by making Pikachu your starter Pokémon as well as giving him the ability to follow you around the map. Selling over 47 million copies combined, the Gen 1 Pokémon games spawned a worldwide craze that lasts to this day thanks to their addictive monster-collecting gameplay.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt capped off CD Projekt Red's acclaimed RPG trilogy in 2015 with critical and commercial success, and also spawned two middling Netflix TV shows and an original anime film. Geralt's epic monster-hunting adventure delivered dense lore and moral choices across a sprawling open world. The Witcher 3's fluid real-time combat and extensive landscapes brought the dark fantasy setting to life like never before. Thoughtful writing and gripping quests made every decision feel weighty in this masterpiece. With 50 million copies sold and multimedia extensions like the Netflix series, The Witcher 3 remains a high watermark for narrative-driven action RPGs and has set the bar to this day. It's nice to see such a massive open-world action RPG achieve legendary status as one of the best-selling video games of all time.

Blizzard's hero shooter Overwatch became an instant phenomenon when it launched in 2016 with its diverse cast of characters and polished team-based gameplay. Its six-versus-six multiplayer battles led to tense matches across a variety of creative objective modes. Vibrant maps and varied hero abilities ensured no two matches ever played the same. Overwatch inspired a passionate fanbase and esports scene for years before the release of Overwatch 2, which has seen a more muted reception after going free-to-play and five-versus-five. Still, with over 50 million copies sold, the original Overwatch's tactical team combat and extensive world-building both in and outside of the game made it one of Blizzard's biggest new IPs.

Red Dead Redemption 2 raised the bar for open-world adventures when it launched in 2018 with its immersive Wild West setting. Frontiersman Arthur Morgan's gripping tale delivered a poignant narrative woven into a dynamic world full of decision-making freedom. Polished shooting, lush plains, and robust outlaw simulation made the gritty Western landscape feel alive. With over 55 million copies sold, RDR2 set a new gold standard for the action-adventure genre with its memorable characters and impactful storytelling. Even years later, fans still get lost in the game’s authentic and expansive open world.

The classic Super Mario Bros. became a gaming icon and killer app for the NES after launching in 1985, selling over 40 million copies on that console alone. Mario's side-scrolling platforming adventures through the "Mushroom Kingdom" captivated gamers with intuitive gameplay and clever level design. With its memorable soundtrack and colorful worlds full of challenge, Super Mario Bros. defined a genre and remains instantly recognizable decades later.

Expanding later to SNES, Game Boy, Wii Virtual Console, and Nintendo Switch Online, the iconic plumber has sold over 58 million Super Mario Bros. copies to date. Along with Pokémon (which Nintendo only owns a third of), the original Super Mario Bros. has spawned arguably the most successful video game franchise in history and has shown the company's unmatched prowess for crafting genre-defining franchises on the strength of gameplay and design alone.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim delivered an engrossing open-world RPG epic in 2011 with its vast explorable world and mythic lore. Bethesda's signature attention to exploration, character building, and immersion shone through the frozen tundras of "Skyrim." Dynamic combat and environments brought the realm to life whether on foot or horseback. Lauded with critical acclaim and awards, Skyrim allowed total fantasy immersion across PC and three generations of consoles. Hitting the recent milestone of 60 million copies sold across all platforms, Skyrim's incredible freedom and ambition solidified it as a generation-defining RPG masterpiece. The fifth entry in Bethesda's monumental medieval fantasy franchise has been ported so many times, so it makes all the sense in the world for it to be one of the best-selling video games of all time.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe refined the series' signature kart racing formula to perfection when it launched on Nintendo Switch in 2017 as an updated version of Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U. Vibrant new tracks with gravity-defying design joined classic circuit favorites for tight competition while improved battle modes and comprehensive multiplayer options made racing with friends an absolute blast. DLC packs added even more characters like classic racers Petey Pirana, Wiggler, and Kamek, as well as additional karts and customization to the content-rich package. Combined with sales of Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold over 63 million copies and represents both the Mario Kart franchise and the broader Mario franchise at its most polished and definitive.

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, or PUBG, popularized the battle royale genre when it launched in 2017, dropping 100 players into intense PvP matches. Its huge, open maps and tactical, realistic gunplay made every match an adrenaline rush. Regular updates added new weapons, maps, and modes to refine the last-man-standing formula. While not as popular as the free-to-play Fortnite, PUBG's unit sales can be fully tracked, unlike its rival, at least before it switched to a free-to-play model in 2021. Garnering millions of concurrent players and launching esports tournaments, PUBG captured lightning in a bottle. With over 75 million copies sold, PUBG's innovative take on multiplayer shooters inspired a revolution in competitive gaming and cemented it as one of the best-selling video games of all time.

The Wii Sports minigame collection became a cultural phenomenon after launching bundled with the groundbreaking Wii in 2006. Its motion-controlled sports like bowling, tennis, and baseball made gaming accessible for all ages. Wii Sports' pick-up-and-play multiplayer captured the magic of arcade classics for the modern era. As the only title on this list bundled with a console, its sales directly represented the adoption of the revolutionary Wii itself. With over 82 million copies to its name, Wii Sports and its iconic "Mii" avatars opened gaming to countless new fans.

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto V brought unprecedented scope and polish to the criminal open-world series when it launched in 2013. The game's sprawling city of "Los Santos" and engrossing story mode delivered blockbuster single-player action. GTA Online then evolved into a constantly updated online playground for millions worldwide and continues to be popular to this day. Lauded with critical acclaim and awards, GTA V set new bars for narrative ambition and technical achievement in gaming. With a jaw-dropping 185 million copies sold across three generations of consoles, GTA V stands today as the most successful single-player release in history.

Minecraft's extensive sandbox unleashed unlimited creativity and defined a genre when it launched in 2009. Its simple yet endlessly complex building mechanics made creation a joy for all. Regular updates massively expanded gameplay options and depth for over a decade. Minecraft allowed players to bend their imaginations to will, both solo and multiplayer. With a staggering 238 million copies sold across all platforms, Minecraft has become nothing short of a worldwide cultural phenomenon.

The timeless falling block puzzler Tetris captured lightning in a bottle when it emerged in 1984, defining modern gameplay loops as we know it. With a simple but endless design, Tetris stimulated minds young and old through every era since. Ported to over 65 platforms over decades, Tetris' ubiquity has made it a portal to gaming for millions worldwide. Easy to learn but impossible to master, Tetris delivers endless, captivating fun. With over 500 million copies sold across all platforms, Tetris has certainly cemented its place as the most iconic and enduring video game of all time, with its rise being documented in a recent Tetris biopic film on Apple TV +. The most iconic puzzle game of all time has made history on multiple accounts and cemented itself at the top of the list of the best-selling video games of all time.