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Ranked: The Best-Selling Video Games in History
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Key Takeaways
- Tetris tops the list with 520 million copies—but its total depends on how versions are counted.
- Minecraft (350M) is the biggest single-release success in gaming history.
- Grand Theft Auto V (225M) became the fastest-selling entertainment product ever.
Video games have produced some of the best-selling entertainment products ever—but the top spot isn’t as clear-cut as it seems.
This ranking uses updated sales data from HP (2026) to compare the top-selling video games of all time, led by Tetris at more than 520 million units sold. However, its position is debated because the game has been released across dozens of platforms since 1984.
If each version is counted separately, Minecraft would take the crown, highlighting how the industry’s biggest hits span generations, platforms, and business models.
Is Tetris Really the Best-Selling Game Ever?
Tetris is widely considered the best-selling video game of all time, but that title depends on how its many versions are counted.
Since 1984, the game has been rereleased across dozens of platforms, contributing to its 520 million total. Some analysts count each version separately. Under that approach, Minecraft would rank as the best-selling single-release game in history.
| Rank | Game | Units Sold | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tetris | 520M | 1984 |
| 2 | Minecraft | 350M | 2009 |
| 3 | Grand Theft Auto V | 225M | 2013 |
| 4 | Wii Sports | 83M | 2006 |
| 5 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | 82M | 2018 |
| 6 | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 79M | 2014 |
| 7 | PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds | 75M | 2017 |
| 8 | Terraria | 64M | 2011 |
| 9 | The Witcher 3 | 60M | 2015 |
| 9 | Skyrim | 60M | 2011 |
| 11 | Super Mario Bros. | 58M | 1985 |
| 12 | Human: Fall Flat | 55M | 2016 |
| 13 | Overwatch | 50M | 2016 |
| 13 | The Sims | 50M | 2000 |
| 13 | Stardew Valley | 50M | 2016 |
Despite gaming’s decades-long history, most of the top-selling titles were released after 2010. Franchises like Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto V, and Terraria reflect the shift toward digital distribution, live-service updates, and global player communities.
The Rise of the Creeper
In 2009, Swedish game developer Mojang Studios launched early access for Minecraft, a sandbox game that allows players to create, fight, and mine while engaging with a massive online community.
Nearly two decades later, Minecraft has become the defining game of the modern era, with 350 million copies sold worldwide. It was acquired by Microsoft for $2.5 billion in 2014.
Today, the game’s large fan community has led to the development of the annual Minecon convention, as well as a 2025 film adaptation, A Minecraft Movie, which grossed over $960 million at the box office.
GTA V and the Rockstar Reign
In November 2026, Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to be released. Much of the anticipation stems from its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, which generated over $1 billion in sales within three days of its 2013 launch, making it the fastest-selling entertainment product in history at the time.
Since then, Grand Theft Auto V has sold over 225 million copies worldwide, surpassing even bundled titles like Nintendo’s Wii Sports (83 million).
Few games released since Grand Theft Auto V have matched its commercial success. Red Dead Redemption 2, also developed by Rockstar Games, has reached 82 million sales, ahead of titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (79 million), The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (60 million), and Super Mario Bros. (58 million).
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about this topic, check out the Top 10 Best-Selling Console Video Games of 1980.
