Most Popular Video Games of All Time: The Ultimate List

Video games are a universal way to have fun. Whether you have just started playing video games or trying to wind down after a stressful day, or you’re trying to beat your high score, there’s always going to be a video game that fits the bill.

You can lose yourself in your favorite game for hours on end, and no matter what game you’re playing, you’ll be coming back for more.

But sometimes, it’s the journey itself that keeps you coming back for more.

So, we dug into the data to find the most popular video game franchises of all time, and which games came out on top.

Minecraft

Minecraft was created by Markus Persson, also known as “Notch” in 2009, and published by Mojang Studios. This is one of the largest known video games played by almost 141 million players since its release day.

Minecraft is a sandbox video game that allows playing in a 3D world.
The game has different modes: survival, creativity, adventure, and spectator.
Minecraft has one of the largest gaming communities that creates and shares different modes, skins, and maps with players, allowing them to change the gameplay features or enhance graphics.
Minecraft has sold over 238 million copies and is one of the most widely known video games of all time.
The game has won numerous awards, including several BAFTA awards.
Many other games were created based on Minecraft, such as Terraria, Starbound, and Roblox.
Minecraft is available on many platforms, including PC, consoles, mobile devices, and virtual reality platforms.
Although I don’t like the game’s graphics and it hugely affects my gameplay, many players find it appealing.
Minecraft is used for educational purposes, for example, to teach programming and computer science in schools.

Overall, I can’t agree that the game is not good, but in my personal opinion, the graphics and pixels disturb the gameplay and don’t allow m+e to concentrate. This will not be my first choice when playing one of the best video games of all time. But my personal feelings aside, if you are not color-sensitive and are a very focused person, it’s one of the greatest games of all time.

Super Mario

I want to give standing ovations to the creator of Super Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto, who also created other classic and famous video games like The Legend of Zelda and Donkey Kong. These are games that many generations loved and played, and they never lost their charm or popularity.

The game has eight different worlds, with four levels in each.
The music of the games became a classic and was composed by Koji Kondo.
Mario has been updated and re-released many times over the years.
The game also appeared or was mentioned in different films, television shows, and other video games.
The character of Mario was initially named “Jumpman” and was created for the game Donkey Kong.

Grand Theft Auto V

I’m a little biased here, as I adore this game because of its impressive graphics. Although this is one of my all-time favorites, however, the game also promotes violence, romanticizes criminals, and portrays minorities in a negative light. As these are very important issues, I want to warn you to play cautiously and prohibit it for under-aged kids.

First, I must mention, the game has a vast open world that allows players not to get bored and explore different areas. I must praise the creators as the map is very detailed, with places that offer unique experiences.
You can choose from three friends that have different personalities and their own storylines and missions. Basically, the player can play three different versions of the game.
The game has so many different vehicles that choosing one is difficult. The best part is that you can also customize and upgrade your vehicles.
You can choose the online version of the game to play and interact with others or choose races, sports, and mini-games.
The game has sold over 175 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video games ever.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released in 1998. It’s a very colorful game that earned its place in my list of all time favorite video games.

Ocarina of Time has won numerous awards in past years.
The game’s storyline is rich and immersive, suitable for almost everyone.
The game has numerous hidden secrets and Easter eggs that excited and motivated fans over the years.
We got to see several re-releases over the years, including a remastered version for the Nintendo 3DS in 2011.
The game affected the gaming industry and left its mark and legacy for other game developers.

Tetris

Tetris is an all time classic video game that was released in 1984. For many years we saw its different versions, and lately, I bought the Tetris Table game. And I can surely claim that even though there are many outstanding games, this game ages as a fine wine and will never lose its fame.

The name “Tetris” is based on the Greek word “tetra,” which means four. Note that each piece contains four blocks.
Tetris has addictive gameplay and can improve cognitive skills.
Tetris 99 is a battle royale-style game that sets players against each other in a fast-paced, multiplayer format.
Tetris’ highest score ever recorded is 999,999, achieved by a Japanese player named TGM_Holdy in 2009.
The game has been used as a tool for research in fields such as psychology, and neuroscience.
The game is one of the most beloved and recognizable video games of all time.

World of Warcraft

WoW was released in 2004 and has become one of the most successful and influential MMORPGs ever.

WoW has a total of 14 races, including humans, orcs, dwarves, trolls, gnomes, and undead.
The game integrated many novels and comics.
Many other MMORP games copy its gameplay and design.
The game helps same-minded people to find each other. Many players formed long-lasting friendships and communities within the game.
WoW was mentioned in various movies, TV shows, and other media, and there is even a movie about it, although the rating isn’t high.
Warcraft is used for studies examining the behavior of players within the game.

Pokemon Red/Blue/Green/Yellow

Pokemon was a sensation for its time and changed the gaming industry. I love this franchise including bat pokemon and other characters and creatures that are part of complex gameplay.

Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green were first released in 1996, while Pokemon Yellow was released in 1998.
The games were published by Nintendo for the Game Boy.
There are 1000+ fictional species and characters in Pokemon.
The games developed into an entire franchise of video games, trading cards, TV shows, and movies.
Each game has its unique set of exclusive Pokemon, encouraging players to trade with each other to complete their collections.

Fortnite

Fortnite is a free-to-play battle royale game released in 2017 and quickly became one of the most popular games in the world.

The game is available on multiple platforms, including PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.
Fortnite has three game modes: Battle Royale, Creative, and Save the World where Battle Royale is the most popular.
Fortnite has significantly impacted the gaming industry and inspired similar games like Apex Legends and Call of Duty: Warzone.
Fortnite has hosted numerous in-game events and collaborations with popular franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, and Stranger Things.

The Last of Us

Many of you have heard about The Last of Us lately and it’s thanks to the HBO TV series that adapted the game. This means that the game is so good that based on it was filmed a TV drama series that had worldwide success:

The game features both stealth and action gameplay.
The game’s graphics and animation are of very high quality providing the players with a realistic and immersive experience.
The game’s voice-over and storyline are also very memorable, with many players and critics calling it one of the best video game stories ever told.
The game won numerous awards, including multiple “Game of the Year” awards.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (MW2) is a first-person shooter video game genre. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in November 2009.

MW2 is the sixth game in the Call of Duty series and the second game in the Modern Warfare subseries.
The game was a commercial success, grossing over $1 billion within its first two months of release.
MW2 was the last game in the series to feature a dedicated server browser for PC players, with subsequent games using a matchmaking system.
The game’s remastered version, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered, was released in 2020 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is another popular video open-world action role-playing game. Skyrim is the fifth game in the Elder Scrolls series and takes place 200 years after the previous game’s events.

The game features five major cities and numerous smaller towns and settlements.
Players can choose from different races, including humans, elves, and anthropomorphic creatures such as orcs.
The game allows players to customize their character’s appearance and abilities.
The game’s soundtrack, composed by Jeremy Soule, is regarded as one of the best video game soundtracks of all time.
The game has won numerous awards, including Game of the Year.

Elijah Cardiff

Elijah is passionate about the world, video games, science and the future. He is a tech guy who tries to find creativity in his every day life and write about his interests.