Throughout video game history, thousands of games have been released, and in that time, these games have made lots of money. While not all games make billions of dollars in sales. The ones on this list have shown the mammoth potential of video games and what players love the most. Some of these games are classics, while others are modern classics, but they all have hoards of fans and have made their way into gamers’ hearts around the world.

Read on to discover the highest grossing video game of all time. The top one may come as a surprise.

How We Made This List

With so many video games on the market, it’s normal to wonder what the highest-grossing video of all time is. To determine what game has made the most money, we dove into market research to help rank each item appropriately and ensure that figures were as recent as possible. We also wanted to ensure the most accurate information about each game and its gameplay. In most cases, we cannot get the exact sales numbers for the games, but we can make estimations based on several available factors that allow us to feel confident with our finished product.

To compile this list, we used the following techniques:

• We compiled market research on major video game releases. We used game sales figures and cost-per-unit numbers to determine the amount that was grossed by the games. We have used the most updated sales figures, and when exact numbers were unavailable, we used comparative data to make the closest approximations.
• We made sure to include figures for each platform for multi-platform games. Whenever possible, we obtained sales figures for each platform so that we could associate the right sales numbers. When multi-platform stats weren’t available, we used formulas to account for varying prices across platforms.
• For video game information, we relied on official manufacturer data and information whenever possible. We paid attention to sales figures released by manufacturers but also reliable gaming and marketing experts.
• To make the figures fairer across decades, we adjusted figures for inflation, so while raw sales numbers for certain games are lower, they are higher when inflation is considered.
• This list includes game sales around the world and does not just focus on game sales in the United States or other specific markets. However, U.S. sales often made up a significant portion of overall sales.

The following games represent games that have all brought in billions of dollars and will likely continue to have sales as they remain cherished games for millions of gamers across the world.

25. Red Dead Redemption 2 – $1.5 Billion

Red Dead Redemption is a game that has been on the market for more than a decade and still makes an impression. Developed by the creators of the popular Grand Theft Auto series, Red Dead Redemption is a Western-themed action-adventure game that was released in 2010.

The game tells a tale of life in America’s unforgiving heartland. This video game is available on different platforms including Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and many others.

24. Tetris – $1.9 Billion

Tetris is a puzzle video game developed by EA Mobile and published by Electronic Arts. The game was first created by a software engineer of soviet decent in the year 1984. It has been published by several different companies, most notably by Nintendo, but EA released a mobile version in 2008.

The game is based on the concept of geometric shapes falling from the top of the screen and the player must rotate and place them to clear lines. The game ends when the player can no longer clear lines and the screen is filled with Tetriminos. It is available on several platforms including Game Boy, Nintendo DS, iOS, Android, and more.

23. Minecraft – $2.5 Billion

This is a sandbox video game that was released by Mojang in the year 2011. It allows you to build and destroy structures made from textured cubes in a procedurally generated three-dimensional environment. Minecraft has been praised for its creativity, community, and openness.

The game has received numerous awards, including the Game Developers Choice Award, the Golden Joystick Award, and the BAFTA Games Award for Best Family and Social Game.

While Minecraft may not be the most lucrative of the games on the list, it has sold huge numbers of copies and is the highest-selling game of all time with more than 300,000,000 sales. People can’t get enough of this game.

22. Mario Kart 8/Deluxe – $4 Billion

This is a racing game in the series Mario Kart. This game was developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. It is the eighth major installment in the series and was released worldwide in April 2014 for Wii U. It was later released as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch.

This game features 48 remastered courses from previous Mario Kart games, as well as 16 new ones. The game also features many new characters, items, and gameplay mechanics.

21. Pokemon Red/Green/Blue/Yellow – $5 Billion

Pokémon Red/Green/ Blue/Yellow is an era-defining game that allows players to catch, trade, and battle Pokémon in a quest to become the very best. The game was originally released in Japan in 1996 and quickly became a sensation, eventually making its way to the West in 1998.

Despite being over 20 years old, the game is still going strong and has a dedicated fan base. This rollable series has seen a recent surge in popularity, with the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield.

With a massive world to explore and over 800 Pokémon to catch, it’s no wonder Pokémon Red/Green/ Blue/Yellow is one of the highest-grossing video games of all time. If you’re looking for a timeless classic that you can sink hundreds of hours into, look no further than Pokémon Red/Green/ Blue/Yellow.

20. Final Fantasy VII- $3.6 Billion

The Final Fantasy franchise was established by Hironobu Sakaguchi of Square Enix. Final Fantasy VII is the seventh game in the series, and it was initially released as a demo in 1996 before being released as the full game in 1997. The 1997 release was on PS1 and is associated with more than 10,0000,000 sales around the world.

The game has since been released in a number of iterations and has been on a range of platforms like PC, PS3, PSP, Steam, mobile, and XB1. Special editions of the game have also been made, including a 10th-anniversary edition that came out in 2007 on PSP or a reunion edition that was released on several platforms in 2022. All these renditions have really boosted the sales and overall gross of this game.

19. Genshin Impact – $5.3 Billion

Genshin Impact is a role-playing action game that was developed for mobile devices by the Chinse company miHoYo. The game was inspired by other games, such as the Legend of Zelda, as well as mythology from around the world.

This popular fantasy game is one of the newest on the list, but it has already made its mark. Towards the end of 2020, it was released on mobile devices, PC, and PlayStation 4. In 2021, it was released on PlayStation 5.

The game’s first-year figures were off the charts, and it became the biggest grossing first-year revenue for any game in history with an estimated 3.8 billion in first-year revenue. It has only continued to grow in the years since its release. We can’t wait to see how Genshin Impact evolves in the coming years.

18. Donkey Kong – $5.5 Billion

Donkey Kong is a game with a long history and a dedicated fan base. The game was originally release in 1981 by Nintendo. In this game, Nintendo’s beloved character, Mario, must fight a gorilla named Donkey Kong. Like many other games of the time, the game began as an arcade game, but it eventually expanded to other platforms like Atari and NES.

Donkey Kong became one of the most notable games of the 1980s, and since its creation, it has had several franchise spin-offs and new games. However, no game will ever be as legendary as the original Donkey Kong.

17. Super Mario Bros. – $7.3 Billion

Super Mario Bros is a 1985 platform video game developed by Nintendo. The game was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka.

Super Mario Bros has grown in popularity for a long time and has gained a massive fanbase. The game has been re-released on numerous occasions and has been ported to several different video game consoles. It has achieved so much commercial success because of that.

16. Wii Sports – $7.5 Billion

This is a simulation game that was designed and developed by Nintendo specifically for the Wii video game console. It was released in 2006 and includes five sports games: tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, and boxing. Wii Sports was a launch title for the Wii and was bundled with the console in most regions.

Wii Sports was praised for its simple controls and gameplay, which makes it accessible to players of all ages and skill levels. The game has been credited with popularizing the Wii console and driving its sales. It is available on the Wii, Wii U, and Switch consoles.

15. Grand Theft Auto V – $7.8 Billion

Grand Theft Auto V is an action-adventure game that was developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It was released on September 17, 2013, for the PlayStation. It is the seventh main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series.

According to IGN, The game is set within the fictional state of San Andreas, based in Southern California. The game is available in three different modes: Story, Online, and GTA. The game’s online mode is played from a third-person perspective and can be either cooperative or competitive. You can find this game on different platforms including Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation.

14. Clash of Clans – $8.4 Billion

Clash of Clans was developed and released by Finnish company Supercell in 2012.  This game is a free game with paid options and has become one of the most popular Finnish games of all time. This fantasy game lets players make their own village and expand their power by earning rewards, attacking other villages, and buying improvements.

There have been other games in the franchise, such as Clash Quest, Clash Heros, and Clash Royale, but none of the other games had the same impact that the original Clash of Clans did.

13. Pokémon Go- $10 Billion

There’s no doubt that Pokémon games deserve their place on this list. After all, the Pokémon franchise is one of the top-grossing media franchises of all time. It is estimated that the whole franchise is worth around $100 billion. The game that really takes the cake in this franchise is Pokémon Go.

One of the most viral mobile games of all time is Pokémon Go because it is highly interactive and challenges users to find Pokémon by interacting with their real-world locations. This game was an augmented reality game, so players could make custom avatars, which would then be placed on a map near to where they were playing. The game became the most downloaded game, and while it was free to download, it offered premium content.

12. Monster Strike – $11 Billion

Monster Strike is a Japanese mobile game developed and published by Mixi in 2013. Over the next five years, it would gain enough popularity to become the highest-grossing mobile game. This is a game that focuses on role-playing physics and solving puzzles through strategy and cooperation.

Although it started as a mobile game, Monster Strike evolved, and in 2015, it was released on the Nintendo 3DS. The game even inspired an anime series that same year and an anime film adaptation, showing the cultural impact of this game.

11. World of Warcraft – $11.5 Billion

First released by Blizzard Entertainment in 2004, World of Warcraft is one of the best-known MMORPGs of all time. Players can explore an exciting world with their avatars through first or third-person view. They can interact with non-player characters, fight monsters, and roam through the landscape.

WoW was a fast success and it quickly because one of the most beloved MMORPG games ever to be released. Even today, players still love to return to this classic game, and it will no doubt go down in gaming history.

10. Candy Crush Saga – $12 Billion

The Candy Crush Saga may be the most relaxed game on this list, but it has made some serious money through premium features offered on this otherwise free game. It began as a Facebook game, but it gained a lot of popularity on mobile devices. It also has had computer versions to expand options for players.

Some estimates suggest that the game was earning a million dollars per day at its peak, so it’s no wonder that this game has made the list of one of the highest-grossing video games of all time. That’s pretty good for a free game— or any game.

9. League of Legends – $15.3 Billion

League of Legends is an American free-to-play online battle area multiplayer game that was released in 2009. While the game is free to play, it has purchasable elements that have earned it lots of revenue.

The game is available on computers and has been considered to be one of the best games ever made, leading to it being played millions of time and earning billions of dollars in revenue.

7. PUBG: Battlegrounds – $16.5 Billion

PUBG: Battlegrounds is a game about the survival of the fittest. You are pitted against 99 other players in an ever-shrinking map filled with weapons and vehicles.

According to All Top Everything, you will land on strategic locations, loot weapons and armor, and kill everyone in sight. The last person standing will be the winner. The game was released on March 23, 2017, and has since gained quite a huge following. The game is incredibly popular and is available on several platforms including PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation.

6. Honor of Kings – $19 Billion

Honor of Kings is a 2015 video game that was released by Tencent Games for mobile device in China. It became a huge best-seller in China and the most-played mobile MOBA, but it didn’t get an international version until years later when Level Infinite was released in in early 2023.

Honor of Kings has been around for a long time, but it is still relatively new to the international markets, so there are still plenty of gamers who are exploring this exciting and fun game.

5. Fortnite – $20 Billion

First released by Epic Games in 2017, Fortnite is an American battle royale game that was inspired by PUGB. This game quickly became a success, and its six game mode versions make the gameplay exciting and dynamic for many players.

The game has appeared on a number of gaming platforms including mobile, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One.

4. Street Fighter II: $21 Billion

Street Fighter II is an arcade fighting game that became a huge franchise. While most franchises are known for their first games, it was Street Fighter II that wound up with the big revenue. This game was made by Capcom and was first released in 1991.

Although the game started out as an arcade game, it eventually was released on other platforms including PC, SNES, Game Boy, PS2, Switch, and PS3.

3.Dungeon Fighter Online – $22 Billion

Dungeon Fighter Online is an RPG game that released for the PC in 2005, and it was developed by the South Korean developer, Neople. This game has had a huge fanbase in Asia, but it is available around the world. It has become the highest-grossing game of all time, but when adjusted for inflation, it drops to number 3.

This game is mostly a PC game, but it has had a mobile version release. The game remains beloved even though it’s been around for nearly two decades.

2. Pac-Man – $25 Billion

One of the kings of video games is Pac-Man, which was first released in 1980 by Namco.  In Japan, it was originally called Puck Man. Profits in North America were shared by Midway, which was licensed for North American distribution. Although it began as an arcade game, the game has been on countless platforms since, and players can continue to enjoy this nostalgic game.

This playful maze game is something that both video game beginners and experts can enjoy. The wider franchise has other impressive games like Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, and Pac-Man-World. There’s always room in our game collections for this classic!

1. Space Invaders – $30 Billion

Space Invaders has fought to be the highest-grossing game of all time. This game was released in 1978 by Japanese game company Taito. It remains a classic game that modern gamers can still enjoy. It quickly became the first blockbuster game to hit the markets.

It has been released in tons of formats over the years, but it will always be remembered in its arcade form. In Japan, the game cost 100 yen to play, and there was a myth that the game was so popular that it caused a shortage of 100 yen coins. While the myth has been disproven, there’s no doubt that the game was insanely popular both in its homeland and abroad.

This game is simple compared to many of today’s games, but it will forever be known as a revolutionary game that made way for all the games that would follow.

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