Wondering which are the 10 best selling role playing games of all time, for the PC? Then you’ve come to the right list. While they tend to get less attention than some other genres, like shooters, RPG’s have long been one of the most popular genres on PC.
The gaming world has grown immensely, attracting diverse fans from all around the globe. Throughout the past three decades, RPG’s have experienced their ups and downs in popularity on home computers along with those shifting demographics and fan bases. The genre thrived throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s before drying up somewhat. Recently they’ve experienced a renaissance again.
Of course, not all video games released are as successful as those recent hits from BioWare. Some games are instant hits, and some make history, while others quickly fade into obscurity. If you like video games, you cannot miss the list we’ve compiled of The 10 Best-Selling Video Games of All Time. Whether you enjoy console games, PC games, or both, check out the list we’ve made and learn about some of the best-selling video games of all time.
This time, we’re delving into the world of RPG’s. In these games, the player typically controls the actions of a protagonist within a fictional world, usually fantasy-based. RPG’s have advanced greatly since their first releases, when they had only simple text-based console-window games. They’ve now developed sophisticated graphics, with 3D experiences, great character development and gameplay complexity.
Every gamer enjoys a good adventure, and likes to slide from time to time, into magical worlds such as these, where they can be a hero and escape from their everyday stress. So, we have gathered some best-selling role playing games of all time, for PC’s in this list, introducing those worlds which captivated gamers the most and let them escape the real world for a few hours.
No. 10 Baldur’s Gate
Copies sold: 2 Million
Year of release: 1998
This game was released by Bioware, and is based on the popular Dungeons & Dragons pen and paper role-playing game, set in the Forgotten Realms. Players could build a party of individuals and set out on various quests. Subsequent sequels continued selling well.
The list of the best selling role playing games of all time for PC continues on the next page.
No. 9 The Witcher
Copies sold: 2.1 Million
Year of release: 2007
The Witcher, released by Atari for PC, features a dark fantasy world based on a book series by Andrzej Sapkowski. The player controls a Witcher, a monster hunter who travels the world, and every decision they make influences their experience over the rest of the game, affecting other characters’ reactions.
No. 8 The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Copies sold: 2.2 Million
Year of release: 2011
The sequel to The Witcher, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, was released three years ago with enhanced combat systems, more complexity, and several mini-games within the main story. Yet, it seems some players had issues with the video card compatibility, and the game presented various support issues which hurt its popularity. Nevertheless, it remains a huge success and slightly outdid its predecessor.
No. 7 Diablo
Copies sold: 2.5 Million
Year of release: 1996
Released by Blizzard, this video game is a hack-and-slash RPG in which each player can control a hero to battle through the game’s dungeons. Eventually, the hero comes face to face with Diablo himself. Diablo became really popular and the developers released various expansions and sequels.
No. 6 Guild Wars 2
Copies sold: 3.5 Million
Year of release: 2012
As a sequel to Guild Wars, this videogame is a MMORPG. Multiplayer games introduce more dynamism, creating different experiences each time you play. Moreover, it has a great combat system that advocates teamwork.
No. 5 Everquest
Copies sold: 3.5 Million
Year of release: 1999
Everquest is regarded as one of the most popular MMORPG’s ever made, and the first to truly capture a wide audience. It has released 12 expansions so far, and continues to carry on to this day despite a sequel (and another one soon to be released).
No. 4 Diablo 2
Copies sold: 4 Million
Year of release: 2000
If Diablo was already one of the most popular RPGs released, Diablo 2 only built further upon that. This sequel enhanced every feature the first one had already done well. Moreover, it introduced an online multiplayer experience, and allowed other characters to hop into your game at anytime. Fanatics say Diablo 2 is one of the best games ever made.
No. 3 Guild Wars
Copies sold: 6.5 Million
Year of release: 2005
This game introduces a whole new variety of possibilities to the typical MMORPG world. It was designed to create “instanced areas”; a separate treatment of each experience within determined areas. This allowed a deeper gaming experience. On top of that, it improved and developed player versus player (PVP) combat. The game was a huge success and it led to an expansion pack and the already listed, best-selling sequel.
No. 2 Diablo 3
Copies sold: 12 Million
Year of release: 2012
Okay, so if 1 and 2 were pretty amazing, you can figure out Diablo 3 was an even bigger success. The game attempted to introduce a bunch of innovations, with similar gameplay and features, but with completely new content and character development. The game has already become a classic among RPG fans.
No. 1 World of Warcraft
Copies sold: 14 Million, approx.
Year of release: 2004
Blizzard released this game in 2004 and changed the online role-playing game world forever. The game has been endlessly imitated, and despite being ten years old, still stands as the most played subscription-based MMORPG today.
