In this article, we will be looking into the 30 most popular games of all time. We will also be covering recent market trends, major players and an analysis of the gaming industry. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Most Popular Games of All Time.
The Global Gaming Industry: An Analysis
According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the global gaming market is expected to reach $245.01 billion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.94% and reach $376.08 billion by 2028. The projected rise can be credited to widespread gaming culture and increased accessibility to the internet and digital devices.
The gaming industry is one of the most multifaceted and ever-evolving industries that has been keeping people hooked and entertained regardless of their age for decades. However, the gaming industry has seen periods of slow and stagnated growth. Soon after the popularity of arcade games in the 1970s, the market seemed to have crashed. However, the market later gained its status back with the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis, leading to a rise in the popularity of gaming consoles.
The pandemic also fueled the growth of the gaming market. Gaming became one of the major forms of entertainment for people to have some sense of relief amid global lockdowns. While many markets were crashing because of COVID-19, the gaming market seemed to remain robust and even grow during that period. Video gaming trends experienced a massive surge in traffic and revenue during the lockdown period as reported by Mordor Intelligence.
Technological advancements are also playing a significant role in the growth of the gaming market. It is not only making the gaming experience better but is also a very strong standout point in terms of marketing. For instance, on September 8, Reuters reported Roblox Corp (NYSE: RBLX)is all set for its PlayStation debut to introduce its engrossing mainframe on Sony Group Corporation’s (NYSE: SONY) consolein October. The CEO of Roblox, David Baszucki announced at the ninth Annual Roblox Developers Conference on September 8, that Roblox will now be available on PlayStation and will also be making the app available on Meta Quest.
Major Players in the industry
Some notable names among the leading companies in the global gaming market are Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Bandai Namco Holdings Inc (OTC:NCBDY), Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY), Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), and Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY).
Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) is one of the leading gaming companies in the world with a significant share in all gaming markets. There are many popular games under the name of Tencent’s gaming division including League of Legends and PUBG Mobile. On September 13, Bloomberg reported that Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY)has secured the rights to develop and publish the mobile edition of the biggest role-playing anime game, Bandai Namco Holdings Inc’s (OTC:NCBDY) Blue Protocol.
Bandai Namco Holdings Inc (OTC:NCBDY) is among the top companies in the entertainment sector. It has a market cap of $15.43 billion as of September 12. The Japanese company is responsible for the popular Tekken series, Dragon Ball Z and Pac-Man. On September 8, Bandai Namco Holdings Inc (OTC:NCBDY)announcedthat the new game in the Tekken Series, TEKKEN 8, will be released on January 26, 2024. The game will be released exclusively for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is among the top tech companies and is responsible for the Xbox series, one of the most popular home consoles in the world. In 2022, the leading tech company, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)made rounds when it announced the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) which is one of the most valuable companies in the gaming industry. However, the acquisition is facing regulatory issues. As of August 21, reported by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) itself, both parties restructured the transaction which now states that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) will not have the right to release games under the Activision Blizzard umbrella exclusively on its own cloud streaming service or in any way control the licensing terms of Activision Blizzard games for rival services.
On September 6, Bloombergreportedthat Microsoft Corporation’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Xbox Chief, Phil Spencer is positive about the merger and said that Microsoft Corporation’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) will be working closely with the UK regulatory authorities to close the deal at the agreed value of $68.7 billion. Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) agreed to extend the date till October 18 for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) to address the remaining regulatory concerns and close the deal. This transaction would be one of the biggest video game deals in history.
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY) is one of the major players in the gaming industry. On September 14, Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY) held their Nintendo Direct online presentation where they talked about the release of upcoming games for the new Nintendo Switch, which is to be launched in 2024. The games included a new Mario vs. Donkey Kong game, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door among others. They also shared a new look for Super Mario RPG Remake which was announced at the previous Nintendo Direct. During the presentation, Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY) also revealed the new Switch OLED Console. The console is named as the Mario Red Edition.
Now that we have discussed what's happening in the global gaming industry, let's take a look at the most popular games of all time.
30 Most Popular Games of All Time
Our Methodology
To rank the most popular games of all time, we collected data from 5 sources including GamesRadar, Gaming Gorilla, IGN, Metacritic, and VGchartz. We followed a consensus approach for this article which involved logging the number of times a game appeared in our sources. We assigned scores to a game as per its ranking in each source.
Four of our sources had 100 games in them. Our scoring scheme for them was as follows: if a game occurred within the top 20 games in our source we awarded it 5 points. We deducted 1 point after every 20 ranks in our sources.
GamesRadar had 50 games so we changed the scoring scheme for the source as follows: if a game occurred within the top 10 games in our source we awarded it 5 points. We deducted 1 point after every 10 ranks in our source.
After that, we added the score of each game and then divided the aggregate score by 5 to scale our scores.
It should be noted that since we are ranking the top 30 most popular games of all time we have included the games with the release date till 2020 to have the data for the popularity trajectory of a game.
Also, please note this list is based on a consensus among the aforementioned sources and does not reflect our opinion.
30 Most Popular Games of All Time
30. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Number of Mentions: 3
Insider Monkey Score: 1 out of 5
The crossover genre game was developed by Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY). The game was released in 2018 and It is the fifth installment in the Super Smash Bros. Series. It features crossovers from various Nintendo franchises including Sonic and Pac-man. The first part of the series was released in 1999. This fighting crossover game is a must-play with its challenging gameplay.
If you are looking to increase your exposure to the video game industry, you can take a look at some notable stocks in the space which include Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO).
29. Final Fantasy VII
Number of Mentions: 3
Insider Monkey Score: 1.33 out of 5
Final Fantasy VII was released in 1997 for the PlayStation console. It is the 7th installment in the Final Fantasy Series. The game falls under the genre of role-playing video games. The game’s well-written story, characters and innovative gameplay make it one of the most popular video games of all time.
28. Sonic The Hedgehog
Number of Mentions: 3
Insider Monkey Score: 1.5 out of 5
The Japanese video game falls under the genre of platform games. It was developed and published by Sega Sammy Holdings Inc (OTC:SGAMY) and is their flagship franchise. It is one of the best-selling video games by Sega Sega Sammy Holdings Inc (OTC:SGAMY). The game features a blue-coloured hedgehog that can run at supersonic speed. It is ranked 28 on our list of the most popular games of all time.
27. Assassin’s Creed 1
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 1.8 out of 5
The game published by Ubisoft Entertainment SA (OTC:UBSFY) is an action-adventure video game. It was released in 2007. It is the first installment in the Assassin's Creed Series. The game is set in a historical period and is about a secret society of assassins. The historical set-up and the compelling story set it apart from other games. It is ranked 27 on our list.
26. Batman: Arkham City
Number of Mentions: 3
Insider Monkey Score: 2 out of 5
Ranked 26 on our list, the action-adventure game, Batman: Arkham City was developed in 2011. The game features Batman, the American comic superhero. It was published by Warner Bros Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD). It is a sequel to the 2009 Batman: Arkham Asylum.
25. Metal Gear Solid 1
Number of Mentions: 3
Insider Monkey Score: 2.2 out of 5
Metal Gear Solid 1 was developed and published by Konami Group Corporation (OTC:KNAMF). It is the first game in the series and was released in 1998. It falls under the genre of action-adventure stealth video games. The game is popular because of its complex storyline and gameplay. It is ranked 25 on our list.
24. Portal 2
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 2.2 out of 5
Portal 2 is the second game in the Portal series. It was published by Valve Corporation in 2011. It is a multiplayer game that falls under the genre of first-person perspective puzzle games. It was developed for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Valve Corporations’ Steam Service distributed the game online while Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) distributed its retail edition.
23. Fallout 3
Number of Mentions: 3
Insider Monkey Score: 2.6 out of 5
Ranked 23 on our list of the most popular games of all time, Fallout 3 is a 2008 action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios. It has won the Best RPG Game award. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic war era. It allows the players to explore a nuclear wasteland and fight the creatures around. Fallout is a challenging yet very interesting game that keeps its players hooked.
22. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 2.8 out of 5
Ranked 21 on our list, the action-packed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is a must-play for all gamers. It is a first-person shooting game and was published by Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI). Its graphics and action gameplay sets it apart from the other games.
21. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Number of Mentions: 5
Insider Monkey Score: 2.8 out of 5
The game developed in 2015 is a sequel to The Witcher 2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the third game in the series. It was developed by CD Projekt. It comes under the genre of open-world, role-playing and action adventure.
20. Dark Souls
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 3 out of 5
Dark Souls is an action role-playing game published in 2011 by Bandai Namco Holdings Inc (OTC:NCBDY). It is the first game in the Dark Souls trilogy. The game is popular among gamers for its challenging gameplay. It is ranked 20 on our list of the most popular games of all time.
19. Fortnite
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 3 out of 5
Fortnite is a product of Epic Games and was released in 2017. The game is 19 on our list and is quite popular among gamers. It is set on a map with a lot of scavenging for survival and weaponry quests involved.
18. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 3.2 out of 5
The action game was developed in 2004 by Rockstar Games. It was released following the 2002 Grand Theft Auto Vice City, making it the 5th in the series. It was first released for PlayStation 2 and later was available to Windows OS and Xbox. The sandbox game allows the user to explore freely.
17. Resident Evil 4
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 3.2 out of 5
The action-horror game was developed and published by Capcom and was released in 2005 for Gamecube originally. The game is the 4th installment in the series that debuted in 1996. It falls under the genre of survival horror video games. It is one of the most popular games because of its gameplay, action sequences and engaging story. It is ranked 17 on our list.
16. The Sims 4
Number of Mentions: 5
Insider Monkey Score: 3.2 out of 5
The Sims 4 is the fourth game in The Sims Series. It is a life simulation game and was published by Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA). The game allows the users to create their Sims as per their customization. The users can control everything about the Sims from its emotions to relationships. The game was released in 2014 and can be played on PlayStation, Xbox, Windows and Mac OS.
15. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Number of Mentions: 5
Insider Monkey Score: 3.4 out of 5
Ranked 15 on our list of the most popular games of all time, The Legend of Zelda is a 2003 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY). It was released for Nintendo Gameboy Advance and NDS. It falls under the genre of action role-playing. Its gameplay includes exploration, combat and puzzle-solving.
14. Red Dead Redemption 2
Number of Mentions: 5
Insider Monkey Score: 3.4 out of 5
The action-adventure survival game was released in 2018 by publisher Rockstar Games. The game is a prequel to the Red Dead Redemption (2011) and is third in the Red Dead Series. It was released for Windows OS, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game is set in 1899 and serves as a prequel to the first game in the series which was set in 1911 and features the story of an outlaw. The storyline, gameplay and graphics of the game make it interesting for its users.
13. Bioshock 1
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 3.6 out of 5
Bioshock 1 is the first installment in the Bioshock Series. It was developed by Irrational Games. It was released in 2007. The game falls under the genre of first-person shooter games. It is ranked 13 on our list of most popular games of all time.
12. Mass Effect 2
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 3.6 out of 5
It is the second installment in the Mass Effect Series. The 2010 action-roleplaying game was published by Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA). It was first released for Windows OS, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The graphics and gameplay make it one of the most popular games.
11. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Life
Number of Mentions: 5
Insider Monkey Score: 3.6 out of 5
Ranked 11 on our list, The Legend of Zelda: Breath to the Life is a 2017 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY). It was released for Nintendo Switch and Wii U. The game is set up in a fantasy land that has been destroyed by the disappearance of Princess Zelda who must be discovered. The game allows the user to explore the land, gather all clues and solve the puzzle.
10. Halo: Combat Evolved
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 3.8 out of 5
The first-person shooter game was published by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). It was released for Xbox consoles in 2001 and was later ported to PC operating systems. The gameplay of Halo: Combat Evolved is fast-paced and exciting. It is ranked 10 on our list of the most popular games of all time.
9. Half-Life 2
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 3.8 out of 5
Half-Life 2 ranks 9 on our list. It is the second installment in the Half-Life series. The first game was released in 1998. The game falls under the genre of first-person shooter. The game is set up in a fictional research laboratory in Mexico. The main character is a Physicist that the players control. The game starts when a teleportation experiment goes wrong and now the Physicist must fight and restore things to normal.
8. The Last of Us
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 3.8 out of 5
The action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic USA was published by Sony Group Corporation (NYSE: SONY). It is the first game in the series and was initially released for PlayStation 3 in 2013 and then consequently released for PlayStation 4. The game was also adapted into a drama series in 2023. The game is among the list of most popular video games of all time and is ranked 8 on our list.
7. Super Mario Bros. 4
Number of Mentions: 4
Insider Monkey Score: 3.8 out of 5
The classic video game was developed by Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY). It was first released in 1988 and has been very popular since then. It is the fourth installment in the franchise Mario Series. The game revolves around the adventures of the main character Mario.
6. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Number of Mentions: 5
Insider Monkey Score: 3.8 out of 5
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a 2011 action role-playing game. It was released on Windows OS, PlayStation 3, 4 and 5, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The game features the main character called Dragonborn who must destroy the dragon that has been ravaging the world. The complete story and characters make it one of the most popular games.
Prominent companies that are leading the global video game industry include Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO).
