From Pixels to Millions: The Most Commercially Successful Video Games

Sometimes, a game comes along and sweeps up millions—sometimes hundreds of millions—of players worldwide. The phenomenon transcends button-mashing or casual after-school fun: these titles become cultural juggernauts that entire households recognize. Think about it: from classic puzzle games that predate the internet to modern blockbusters that rake in fresh sales every quarter, some releases gain such a colossal following they practically define an era. Below, we’ll glide through ten of the best video games in history that have racked up the most video games sold overall, counting down from number ten to the ultimate heavyweight at the top. For each, we’ll explore how they captured lightning in a bottle, broke sales records, and wound up on everyone’s radar—even decades after their debut.

Understanding The Numbers

Before we get started, let’s clarify what we’re talking about. When we say a game sold X million copies, that usually includes both physical and digital sales. Some of these figures come directly from publishers, while others are widely reported estimates that’ve been covered by gaming media, financial reports, or even official investor calls. Sales numbers tend to shift over time as games continue selling, get re-released, or even hit new platforms. The bottom line? These numbers won’t stay fixed forever, but they still give us a pretty solid sense of scale.

10) Pokémon Red/Blue/Green/Yellow (Over 47.5 Million Copies Sold)

For folks who caught “Pokémon Fever” in the late ‘90s, this quartet of cartridge releases—Red, Blue, and (in Japan) Green, followed by Yellow—holds a special place in gaming history. Together, they easily surpassed 47.5 million copies sold, igniting a global obsession with collecting and battling pocket monsters. These original titles helped define what many consider some of the best video games of their generation, spinning a pop-culture behemoth that includes animated series, trading cards, and an avalanche of merchandise. Everyone remembers that initial roster of 151 Pokémon, the catchy 8-bit tunes, and the thrill of linking up with a friend’s Game Boy to trade or duel. Even decades later, new generations discover the joys of exploring the Kanto region, making these original Pokémon adventures a shining example of hitting the sweet spot of sales and staying power.

9) Terraria (Over 58 Million Copies Sold)

It’s easy to assume that only giant studios command the big numbers, but Terraria shatters that notion. Launched by the indie team at Re-Logic in 2011, this 2D sandbox adventure has tallied more than 58.7 million copies sold. Its side-scrolling gameplay sometimes draws comparisons to Minecraft, but with its own brand of combat, exploration, and relentless boss fights. Over time, Terraria benefited from frequent updates that tossed in fresh gear, complex biomes, and elaborate challenges, keeping fans hooked long after the initial buzz. Part of its success stems from that old-school spirit—if you took an SNES action-platformer and turbocharged it with building and crafting, you’d get something close to Terraria’s vibe. Players never run out of new ways to mine, fight, and build, which is precisely why its name consistently appears in “best-seller” lists across multiple platforms.

8) Super Mario Bros. (Over 58 Million Copies Sold)

Take a step back to 1985, when the NES era was dawning. Super Mario Bros. hit the scene and altered gaming forever. From that iconic first level—World 1-1—players discovered hidden blocks, warp pipes, and a charm that still resonates today. Across original cartridge sales, re-releases, and digital availability, this pioneer among the best video games of all time has moved more than 58 million copies. But the sales numbers only tell part of the story. This humble side-scroller turned Mario into a global mascot, influenced the design of countless future platformers, and helped usher gaming into the mainstream. In other words, it set the stage for many of the most video games sold in modern history.

7) Mario Kart 8 (and Deluxe) (Combined Over 60 Million Copies Sold)

The Mario Kart series has enjoyed massive popularity for decades, yet Mario Kart 8 (and its Deluxe version on the Nintendo Switch) elevated that enthusiasm to a whole new dimension. Between the Wii U’s 2014 release and the Switch’s 2017 re-release, the combined sales soared beyond 60.58 million copies. There’s a glorious simplicity in the formula—pick your racer, hop into a kooky kart, and fling shells at your buddies to keep them out of first place. The flexible difficulty, inventive track designs, and couch co-op appeal ensure that Mario Kart 8 remains a staple for families, dorm rooms, and pro-level e-sports communities alike. As the Switch’s user base keeps expanding, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to enjoy impressive longevity in the charts.

6) Red Dead Redemption 2 (Over 67 Million Copies Sold)

Rockstar Games has a talent for crafting open-world spectacles, and Red Dead Redemption 2 underscores that in spades. Released in 2018, this cinematic western saga enthralled players with its expansive frontier, slow-burn storytelling, and painstaking attention to detail. The result? More than 67 million copies sold worldwide as of the last count. Not only did the single-player campaign become an instant classic, but Red Dead Online turned the dusty badlands into a persistent playground for co-op missions and showdowns. Year after year, new players hop on their virtual horses, curious to see if the hype is real. (Spoiler: it absolutely is.)

5) PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) (Over 75 Million Copies Sold)

Though modern battle royale games are everywhere, PUBG was among the first to catapult the concept into the mainstream. You drop onto a sprawling map, scrounge for gear, and fight to outlast 99 other players as a closing circle squeezes everyone together. That tension resonates globally—PUBG surged past 75 million copies sold on PC and consoles (not even counting its vast mobile audience). One of the game’s early draws was its relative realism: bullet physics, gritty aesthetics, and methodical pacing. While PUBG might’ve lost some spotlight to free-to-play rivals over time, it still remains a must-play in the conversation around the best video games that kickstarted the battle royale craze.

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4) Wii Sports (Over 82.9 Million Copies Sold)

Sometimes it’s not about cutting-edge graphics or open-world extravaganzas. Wii Sports launched in 2006 and proved that gaming could be for everyone—including grandparents, busy office workers, and extended families at holiday gatherings. Bundled with Nintendo’s Wii in most markets, it ended up selling more than 82.9 million copies—because if you bought a Wii, you basically bought Wii Sports. Inside that unassuming disc, players found tennis, bowling, baseball, golf, and boxing—simple yet addictive sports simulations that redefined casual gaming. Wii Sports grabbed a wide demographic that previously ignored the gaming world, solidifying Nintendo’s reputation for innovative, inclusive entertainment.

3) Grand Theft Auto V (Over 205 Million Copies Sold)

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V launched back in 2013 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but that was just the opening act. Subsequent releases on PC and newer consoles kept sales climbing, ultimately pushing the count over 205 million. Its continuing allure comes partly from GTA Online, a sprawling multiplayer world brimming with updates—new vehicles, heists, seasonal events, and more. While the single-player campaign enthralled fans with its narrative about three unlikely criminals, the real staying power rests in that social playground. Players across the globe still log in daily to scheme, race, buy properties, and basically craft their own criminal empires. Each new content drop bumps the sales figure higher, underscoring GTA V’s status as a multi-generation phenomenon.

2) Minecraft (Over 300 Million Copies Sold)

Minecraft surpasses 300 million copies sold—and still going strong. What began as an indie experiment turned into a boundless sandbox for every kind of creativity you can imagine. Build a medieval castle, recreate your favorite city, script complicated redstone contraptions, or simply hunker down to survive blocky monsters through the night—Minecraft accommodates it all. With expansions, countless mods, thriving servers, and adaptations for nearly every platform, the game appeals to schoolchildren learning basic resource management and seasoned architects engineering entire kingdoms. The magic ingredient is the freedom it offers: whether you’re playing alone, cooperatively, or on colossal community servers, Minecraft continues to define what it means to be one of the best video games ever made—and it also tops any list of the most video games sold in modern history.

1) Tetris (Over 520 Million Copies Sold)

A blueprint for puzzle gaming success, Tetris has been around since 1984. Who’d have guessed that falling blocks—tetrominoes—could captivate the entire world for decades on end? This timeless loop of “line up the pieces to clear rows, chase a higher score, and repeat” soared past 520 million in combined sales, making it one of the most video games sold across multiple platforms. Thanks to countless remixes, spinoffs, and even a modern twist like Tetris 99’s battle royale mode, the franchise never loses momentum. Whether you’re chilling on a subway ride or looking for a quick brain exercise, Tetris remains a staple that never feels outdated.

What These Mega-Hits Reveal

‍From an unassuming puzzle game older than the internet to an ever-expanding voxel universe that enthralls tens of millions daily, these titles highlight just how broad and inventive the gaming landscape can be. Some soared by leaning on pick-up-and-play simplicity, while others cultivated sprawling sandbox worlds that keep evolving with each new patch or console generation. The route to success might hinge on a big-budget marketing push or the spark of an indie developer who captures the imagination of millions. Whatever the formula, the numbers don’t lie: these ten have rocketed beyond mere “popular game” status to become long-standing legends.

They’ve endured the hype cycle, outlasted numerous industry fads, and left an unshakable mark on pop culture. Whether you crave endless building in Minecraft, yearn to lob blue shells in Mario Kart, or just want to line up Tetris blocks until your eyes glaze over, these giants are evidence that when lightning strikes, a video game can smash records and remain a beloved staple for generations to come.