Do you know what the best-selling video game franchises of all time are? If you are a gaming enthusiast, you probably won’t be surprised by most of the titles presented in this article. In fact, some of these games might be sitting on a shelf somewhere in your home or still laying in your console.
Unlike other popular video games, the ones appearing in our list of the best-selling video game franchises of all time are far from one-hit-wonders. Entire series have been created, impacting entire generations with their various titles. Some of these franchises are so popular, that you are not even shocked anymore when you see your kids playing the same video game you used to play back in the day. Of course, improvements are always made, and gameplay is adapted to the more sophisticated player of the new generation.
In our list of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, we have not included the actual games which have dominated the industry for years, nor their expansions. Although they are not considered actual separate games, they do constitute a change from the original, thus allowing players to submerge themselves in a new world, while enjoying the same gameplay. Instead we will only list the series. If you are more interested in individual games, be sure to check out our list of the 10 best-selling video games of all time.
Some of the following games are relatively new, while others have been around for decades, yet they all have one thing in common: an abundance of sequels. Much like in the movie, when a successful video game has been achieved, developers usually don’t wait long to bring out parts 2, 3, 4, etc. So without further delay, let us take a closer look at the ten best-selling video game franchises of all time.
10. Final Fantasy
The original Final Fantasy game was released in 1987 and has grown into a huge franchise, thanks to the genius of its creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. The franchise includes 14 main games, with number 15 currently in development, along with an array of spin-offs, which even includes animated movies The Spirits Within and Advent Children.
9. Call of Duty
The first-person shooter published by Activision has enjoyed huge success since its release in 2003. In fact, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is one of the most popular video games of all time.
8. Tetris
The puzzle game created by Alexey Pajitnov was so successful that it is still played on a series of platforms today. Although simple in terms of graphics and gameplay, the challenging puzzle game never gets old.
7. Sonic the Hedgehog
Beginning his adventures on the classic Sega Genesis console, Sonic is not only a very recognizable video game character, but has also become the star of an animated television series, manga, and comic books.
The best selling racing series of all time is next on our list of the best selling video game franchises of all time, continuing on the next page.
6. Need for Speed
The most successful racing game series of all time created by Electronic Arts has been around for an eternity. Originally released in 1994, the newest version of the game is currently available on most platforms.
5. The Sims
The strategic life-simulation game was most successful for the computer platform, for which 4 titles were released. In fact, The Sims has become the best-selling PC franchise of all time!
4. Grand Theft Auto
Originally released in 1997, the action-adventure game developed by Rockstar Games first rocketed to fame with Grand Theft Auto III, the first fully 3-D game in the series. The latest title, Grand Theft Auto V broke all sales records, selling 15 million units on its launch day and may end up as one of the best selling games of all time.
3. Wii Sports
The physical simulation games developed for the Wii console, were originally created in order to help make the new device and its innovative controls more popular. Needless to say, it was hugely successful, besting many of the most popular series in the world with just one release.
2. Pokémon
The role-playing game created in 1996 by Satoshi Tajiri for Game Boy, has become one of the largest franchises of all time. Apart from the 66 video games, the franchise includes 17 films, trading cards, manga, and a very successful animated series.
1. Mario
Making his first appearance in 1981 as part of the original Donkey Kong game, Mario went on to star in the famous Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. series for Nintendo. The character created by Shigeru Miyamoto is currently the official Nintendo mascot, and continues to appear in a wide array of video games, as well as in animated series, films and comic books.
