The world of video games is constantly growing, and some games and franchises leave an indelible mark on the history of pop culture and the entertainment industry. While new titles regularly break records, certain franchises stay at the top of the sales charts for years, even decades. Thus, the best-selling game in history is Minecraft, which has sold 300 million copies, while GTA 5 is behind it with 205 million copies since its release, and it is still being sold today while waiting for the release of the sixth.
But the best-selling gaming franchises that combine different titles and platforms show a slightly different scale and much higher numbers. These days, Activision has confirmed that the Call of Duty series has exceeded 500 million copies sold, which includes the latest game Black Ops 6. However, this is far from the probably more famous game globally.
Mario
Nintendo’s legendary character Mario appeared in 1981, becoming the face of the gaming world. The franchise, which includes series such as Super Mario, Mario Kart and Mario Party, has sold over 879 million copies.
Mario literally raised generations of gamers and drew millions into the world of gaming, and how tirelessly popular he is is evidenced by last year’s movie The Super Mario Bros. which grossed $1.36 billion globally and only Barbie was a more watched title than it.
Call of Duty
Launched in 2003, this series of FPS games conquered the market with over 500 million copies sold. Each new installment brings adrenaline action and tense stories, attracting an army of fans around the world.
Call of Duty dominates the shooter genre and is recognized in the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling FPS series. In addition, this is the most popular gaming franchise from the USA.
Tetris
A simple but addictive block stacking game was created in 1984 in the USSR, and its creator was Aleksey Pažitnov. The story of the game, which you can read in the link below, also got its film version, and the legendary game and its versions have sold more than 495 million copies.
Tetris is available on almost all platforms, and mobile versions have become a viral hit.
This is the best-selling game of Soviet origin and a symbol of simple yet flawless gameplay.
Pokémon
With more than 480 million sales, Pokémon has grown into one of the most recognizable brands in the entertainment industry. From games to cartoons and cards, this franchise offers recognizable characters and adventures. Pokémon is synonymous with nostalgic adventures, and new releases delight both young and old. It started as a Game Boy game, and the Pokemon Go version caused global hysteria.
Grand Theft Auto
Rockstar Games is a publisherč who masterfully knows how to make long-lasting games, and the GTA series offers an open world and freedom of action, with over 430 million games sold on various platforms.
Grand Theft Auto V is particularly popular, becoming the second best-selling game of all time. The first title from 1997 brought a vertical view of our criminal adventure, the trio moved things into 3D, and next year, after a gap of 12 years, GTA 6 should be released.
Minecraft
This sandbox game by Swedish designer Markus Persson has sold more than 350 million copies, becoming a global phenomenon. Minecraft and its blocky graphics enable players to create their own world, encouraging creativity. Today, it is the best-selling game of all time and an inspiration to many creatives.
FIFA
The football simulation series has sold over 325 million copies and dominates the sports game market. Every year, it brings an authentic experience of the football game, adapting itself to real sports trends. FIFA has been a must for football fans and is the world standard in sports simulations. But FIFA 23 was the last title in the series, and EA Sports launched the EA Sports FC franchise last year.
Wii Series
With sales of over 215 million, the Wii Series includes innovative games such as Wii Sports, which redefined interactive entertainment. Games for the Wii console appeared in 2006 to encourage movement and physical activity. This series represents Nintendo’s commitment to family and friendly gaming, and included Wii Sports, Sports Resort, Sports Club, Chess, Music, Fit.. and a whole series of titles under the same cap.
The Sims
The life simulation series The Sims has sold more than 200 million copies, and enables players to create and manage virtual lives. The studio behind the game is Maxis and Electronic Arts, and its popularity lasts longer. two decades. The Sims stands out for its focus on creativity and life situations. The title The Sims 4 is still relevant and is played moreć 10 years and received a number of upgrades and improvements.
Assassin’s Creed
This historical adventure with elements of stealth gameplay has sold more than 200 million copies. Assassin’s Creed offers compelling stories set in historical events, the name is different from other action games. Ubisoft’s series enjoys a loyal fan base around the world. The first game was released in 2007 and is set mainly during the Third Crusade, at the end of the 12th century. The latest title, Shadows, moves the action to the time of the samurai and the Sengoku period of Japanese history in the 16th century.
LEGO
LEGO is another series that has sold 200 million copies of games. These are numerous Lego adaptations of well-known titles such as Harry Potter, Batman, Indiana Jones, Marvel titles or Star Wars. The newest game in the LEGO world is based on the Horizon series, and is called LEGO Horizon Adventures.
Among the series that have sold more than 100 million copies, we should definitely highlight Final Fantasy (185), Sonic (166), Resident Evil (163), Legend of Zelda (153), Need For Speed (150), NBA 2K (148), Star Wars (131), Madden (130), eFootball – PES (100) and Tomb Raider (100).