The best-selling video games of the 21st century – so far

The older you get, the quicker each new year seems to roll around, and we’re now somehow a quarter of the way through the 21st century. There have been a lot of games released in those 25 years, some doing better than others, smashing records along the way. 

In a world where most people have access to at least one gaming platform, with many hoarding multiple different consoles to play on, successful games sell incredibly well. While most of the bestsellers are obvious, some in the top 20 may surprise you. 

Image via Warner Bros.

Hogwarts Legacy is one of the most recently released titles on this list, and despite that, it has sold more than 30 million copies across all platforms. The wizarding world never seems to fail at bringing fans back time and again, and this open-world exploration of familiar locations did a great job of putting them in the flying seat.

Image via Nintendo

There is an almost endless list of Mario titles to play, and New Super Mario Bros. Wii features all of the tell-tale and beloved features from the franchise. Any Mario release will sell well, but New Super Mario Bros. Wii performed incredibly well and is still remembered fondly. 

Image via Nintendo

If you’re wondering how Wii Sports Resort managed to climb to this point, it may be because it was included for free whenever someone purchased a Wii after the game was released. Whether that’s the explanation or not, Wii Sports Resort was actually pretty fun to play and featured a variety of sports, from golf and basketball to swordplay and even frisbee.

Image via Nintendo

It’s perhaps surprising that only one of the Legend of Zelda games released in the last 25 years has made its way onto this list of bestsellers, but I, for one, am glad and not surprised that it’s Breath of the Wild. Hyrule is stunning, the open-world gameplay is truly immersive, and the fights are challenging on many different levels. Breath of the Wild is timeless and definitely a modern classic.

Image via Nintendo

Regardless of which version you pick up, Mario Kart is simply fun to play, and the concept is easy to pick up for anyone, whether it’s grandma during the holidays or your younger family members after watching you play. Mario Kart Wii brought in motion controls that had previously only been seen in arcades, bringing a new element of fun to home gaming.

Image via Activision

21 Call of Duty titles have been released over the years since the original in 2003. Modern Warfare was released on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One and quickly became hugely successful, although that came as no surprise to anyone considering the huge fanbase for the franchise.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Matching Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in terms of sales but dramatically different in terms of style and gameplay, Stardew Valley has gone on to become the baseline of cozy games in the nine years since it was released. ConcernedApe surely had no idea when he was solo developing the title that it would go on to be as successful as it currently is, and he’s still updating it to this day. 

Image via Activision

Black Ops III was the 12th entry in the Call of Duty series and quickly climbed up the ranks of bestsellers thanks to an already established playerbase who are always hungry for more CoD games. The fan-favorite Zombie mode returned in Black Ops III, leaving players with plenty to do and discover.

Image via Nintendo

Again, a lot of the sales of Wii Fit were made alongside Wii consoles, with the fitness game coming as part of a package deal with the console soon after its release. However, Wii Fit also earned plenty of sales on its own, especially when you factor in the release of the Wii Fit Balance Board that enabled people to perform yoga and other balance exercises at home, as well as track their weight and fitness. 

Screenshot by Destructoid

I think it’s fair to say that Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ success can, at least in part, be attributed to the state of the world at the time when it was released. With the Covid-19 pandemic leaving the majority of the world facing lockdown measures, gaming became even more of an escape from reality than it had always been, and the cozy design-your-own-island gameplay offered a valuable distraction from what was happening outside doors that remained permanently closed.

Image via CD Projekt Red

The Witcher series has become endlessly popular since it was originally given to the world by Andrzej Sapkowski in book form. Since the first book was released in Poland in 1993, the world and characters created by Sapkowski have gone on to spawn hugely successful video games and a Netflix series. Wild Hunt is the most successful of the video games and still remains a fan favorite to this day. 

Image via Curve Digital

It may be hard to believe, but this silly and goofy multiplayer ragdoll physics game has matched both The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Overwatch in terms of sales. At first glance, it might be hard to understand why Human: Fall Flat is so popular, but anyone who has played will quickly tell you how much chaotic fun can be had while playing either alone or with friends. Sometimes a game doesn’t have to be particularly serious to do well, sometimes fun is all that matters. 

Image via Blizzard Entertainment

In the time that Overwatch was live and available to play prior to the shutdown of its servers in 2022, Overwatch sold a huge number of copies across PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and eventually Nintendo Switch. It’s easy to see why when you consider the constant updates that the game received, cross-play compatibility across all platforms, and the sleek design of the game’s elements. Sadly, the original Overwatch is no longer available to play, but Overwatch 2 has taken over where it left off. 

Image via 505 Games

At first glance, or if you’re not familiar with these pixel-based games, it can be hard to understand why so many players have flocked to Terraria since its release, but the answer is simple. There’s an almost endless amount of things to do, items to craft and collect, and creatures to overcome in this procedurally generated world, and that keeps people coming back. Plus, there’s something nostalgic about the graphics, which always helps. 

Image via Rockstar

Red Dead Redemption was released back in 2010 and was the best-selling game of May in that year, going on to become massively successful and selling around 22 million copies so far. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that Red Dead Redemption 2 also did incredibly well, smashing the sales of the previous game thanks to improved graphics, a new story, and immersive gameplay. 

Image via Nintendo

Mario Kart 8 was released for the Wii U in 2014, with Mario Kart Deluxe being the rerelease of the same game for Nintendo Switch in 2017. Deluxe featured all of the additional content that had been optional on the Wii U, making it the more cost-effective option, and also benefited from updates including new circuits and characters. 

Image via KRAFTON

There’s no arguing that Battle Royale games always do very well in terms of sales and retaining a playerbase, and PUBG: Battlegrounds is no different. It’s worth noting that this extraordinary sales figure is only applicable from release until January 2022, when the game went free-to-play on all platforms. 

Image via Nintendo

As I’m sure will come as no surprise by this point, a large amount of the thanks for Wii Sports’ incredible sales figure is thanks to the fact that it came as part of a bundle with the Wii upon its initial release. However, it is now accepted as the third best-selling video game of the 21st century, and the best-selling console-exclusive video game of all time. 

Image via Rockstar

Sales figures take a huge leap between the third and second spots, with Grand Theft Auto selling over 200 million copies since it was released, which isn’t surprising when you consider how hugely popular the entire franchise of games has been for decades. Combining the locations of San Andreas and Los Santos, the map is absolutely massive and filled with new things to discover. The story is split between three equally enjoyable characters, and all of the familiar crime-related features from GTA history are present. 

Image via Mojang Studios

At the end of 2024, Minecraft broke sales records by reaching 300 million copies sold and maintains around 170 million monthly players, even 15 years after it was initially released. The simple blocky style combined with the at times terrifying survival aspect make sure that Minecraft appeals to both seasoned gamers and the younger generation, continuing to draw new players in to this day. The game has earned its place in history, and it’s hard to believe that anything could knock it from the top spot. 

Will anything ever outsell Minecraft?

Image via Rockstar

It’s hard to fathom a game releasing in 2025 or beyond managing to soar to a sales record that has been built over 15 years, so it’s likely that Minecraft will remain the best selling video game of the 21st century for quite some time. However, there are upcoming games that are anticipated enough to potentially reach such great heights. 

Grand Theft Auto VI, for example, has players practically shaking with anticipation. With Grand Theft Auto V taking the second spot on this list and knowing how many fresh players the title brought to the franchise, it’s likely that a similar number will pop up to pick Grand Theft Auto VI up onto this list as well, with potentially more who will discover the franchise for the first time.

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