The 10 Best-Selling Video Games of All Time
Games have always existed in a numbers-obsessed industry. Sega vs. Nintendo defined a generation in the '90s, while today's comparatively mild console wars and monthly NPD reports keep sales figures near the forefront of games-related discussion. New monetization models require new metrics for success — monthly active users, player retention rates, in-game revenue, etc. — but one of the industry's biggest questions remains: What are the best-selling video games of all time?
To answer this question, we set out to compile the most accurate list possible by reaching out to publishers and digging through financial reports, news stories, interviews, and more. The result is the following list of the ten best-selling video games of all time.
Some notes up front:
Blizzard’s hero shooter Overwatch sold 50 million copies, according to a Bloomberg report published in April 2022. Overwatch elevated the hero shooter genre with brilliant game design, thoughtfully crafted heroes, and continued esports support. In October of 2022, Overwatch was replaced by its free-to-play sequel, Overwatch 2.
Initial Release Date: May 24, 2016 | Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC | IGN’s Review Score: 10
The Witcher 3 was added to this list in May 2023 when CD Projekt Red announced its seminal RPG passed 50 million copies sold. Total sales for The Witcher series, meanwhile, sit at over 75 million.
The developer is now working on several games new Witcher games, including The Witcher 4 and a Witcher 1 remake.
Initial Release Date: May 18, 2015 | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC | IGN’s Review Score: 9.3
The most recently released game to earn a spot in the top ten is Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar’s western epic sold over 55
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