The Top 10 Best-Selling Games of All Time

Since the 1950s, video games have brought joy and entertainment to generations worldwide. Of the millions of games that have been released over the years — from indie role-playing games (RPGs) you can purchase on Steam for $5 to massive-budget PlayStation first-person shooters — the best games can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life.

The bestselling games tend to share a few traits. They’re easy to pick up, they stick around for years, and they reach players across different age groups and platforms. Some launches seem to hit the perfect cultural moment. Others evolve over time and continue to sell long after their original release. Together, these games offer a snapshot of what players around the world have consistently chosen to spend time on, revealing changing playing habits, shifting platforms and how the industry itself has grown.

How These Games Were Chosen and Ranked

This list ranks games based on total units sold, not revenue. That includes physical copies and digital sales across platforms. In cases where a game has been re-released or expanded over time, widely accepted combined figures are used rather than splitting versions apart. Because companies update figures at different intervals, most sales totals are rounded and should be treated as rough estimates rather than exact figures. Ongoing sellers may continue climbing.

Free-to-play and subscription-based titles are excluded as they don’t follow the same traditional model. As technology continues to reshape how gaming is approached, these rankings reflect the clearest picture currently available of which games have moved the most copies globally.

1. Tetris

Originally released in 1984, Tetris is in a league of its own. The fact that an entire movie was dedicated to the story of how the game was created should be telling enough. Thanks to decades of re-releases across nearly every platform imaginable, it has sold over 70 million physical copies and been downloaded more than 425 million times. 

2. Minecraft

Minecraft has grown far from its experimental indie roots. Since its full release in 2011, it has sold over 300 million copies across PC, console and mobile. Its open-ended design allows players to build or survive however they choose, making it appealing to both kids and adults. 

3. Grand Theft Auto V 

Released in 2013, Grand Theft Auto V continues to sell at an extraordinary pace. With over 200 million copies sold, its success continues to grow. Rockstar’s massive open world and cinematic storytelling have kept the game commercially dominant long after its original launch window.

4. Wii Sports

Wii Sports owes much of its success to perfect timing. Bundled with the Nintendo Wii, it introduced motion controls to millions of players who may not have considered themselves gamers. Simple activities like bowling and tennis made it instantly approachable, helping it sell over 82 million copies. 

5. Red Dead Redemption 2

Despite launching in 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 has steadily climbed the sales charts, now reaching over 79 million copies sold. Its richly detailed world, slow-burn storytelling and technical ambition set a high bar for open-world games. Continued interest across console generations has kept it selling well years after release.

6. Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Originally released on the Wii U and later reintroduced as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch, this entry has sold over 78 million copies combined. Its success comes from refined gameplay and strong multiplayer support. The Switch version in particular gave the game a second life, turning it into one of the company’s most popular titles.

7. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)

PUBG helped popularize the battle royale genre and became a global phenomenon shortly after its 2017 release. With around 75 million copies sold on PC and console, it proved that large-scale multiplayer survival games could achieve mainstream success. Its influence extends beyond sales, shaping the design of countless competitive games that followed in its wake.

8. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Released in 2015, The Witcher 3 has sold 60 million copies, driven by word of mouth and critical acclaim. Its complex storytelling and expansive world helped it stand out in a crowded RPG market. Re-releases and next-gen updates introduced the game to new audiences, expanding its commercial lifespan.

9. Terraria

Often described as a 2D counterpart to Minecraft, Terraria has quietly built an enormous audience since its 2011 debut. With close to 60 million copies sold, its blend of crafting and combat has kept players engaged for years. Frequent updates and strong community support have allowed the game to grow steadily.

10. Super Mario Bros.

The original Super Mario Bros. helped define modern gaming when it launched in 1985. Across its original release and subsequent reissues, it has sold over 40 million copies. Its tight level design and memorable characters turned Mario into a global icon and helped revive the video game industry after the early 1980s crash.

Why These Games Still Matter

These games represent so much more than just what moved the needle. They unveil movements that resonated with generations of people. Just as 80s teenagers were up at midnight, obsessively trying to beat the highest Tetris score in their friend group, today’s teens are doing so on their MacBooks. These titles needed far more than luck and good timing to secure the coveted status of one of the best-selling games of all time. They understood culture, removed friction and delivered experiences people want to return to again and again. 

As hardware evolves and new releases compete for spots on consumer shelves, it’s easy to assume that older titles will fade into obscurity. The reality is the opposite. These games will continue to sell because they adapt and remain fun, as they always have and always will. Sales records may eventually break, but the lessons behind them will stick far longer.