Best-Selling Games Of Each Of The Past 25 Years In The US

By
Eddie Makuch
on January 26, 2024 at 1:00PM PST

Top SellersFor many years Call of Duty has typically been the US’s best-selling game each year, although Hogwarts Legacy was the No. 1 best-selling game in the US for 2023. That’s notable because it’s the first time since 2008 that neither a CoD game nor the latest Rockstar Games release was No. 1. With 2023’s best-selling games announced, we’re now looking back at the past 25 years of game sales in the US, which can be quite eye-opening to look at today.

Circana (formerly the NPD Group) released this data on social media by way of analyst Mat Piscatella. These lists are ranked on dollar sales, not unit sales. Something else to note is that the lists include physical game sales and digital sales (from 2012 onwards)–but only from publishers who provide that data. Not every company does, though, so these lists are not perfect. It’s also worth bearing in mind they cover only a calendar year, meaning steady sellers over time, such as Minecraft, don’t rank as highly as you might expect. With those caveats in mind, these lists do provide a general overview of which games sold the best in the US over the past 25 years.

As you’ll notice, Call of Duty and GTA games are regular chart-toppers, as are sports games like Madden and the incredibly popular Rock Band and Guitar Hero franchises. But there are many others–wrestling games, Need for Speed, and others–that once dominated the charts but haven’t made an appearance on them in years.

Scroll through the slides below to see all the best-selling games of the past quarter century.

1998The top-selling games of 1998 were revolutionary. Ocarina of Time established many 3D mechanics that set trends for years; GoldenEye demonstrated that first-person shooters could thrive on console; Banjo established a formula for mascot platformers; and Gran Turismo was the first major simulation-style racing game.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time007: GoldenEyeWWE WarzoneNFL BlitzWCW/NWO RevengeResident Evil 2Banjo-KazooieGran TurismoMadden NFL 99Super Mario 64Tekken 3Mario Kart 64Metal Gear SolidYoshi’s Island1080 SnowboardingNFL Game Day 99Crash Bandicoot 3: WarpedTomb Raider 2: Adventures of Lara CroftStar Wars: Rogue SquadronWCW vs. NWO: World Tour

1999Nintendo dominated 1999, with nine of the top 10 best-selling games coming from the Japanese game giant. Only WWE: Attitude prevented Nintendo from holding all of the top 10 spots, marking a continuing trend of wrestling games selling extremely well in the late ’90s.

Donkey Kong 64Pokemon Red/BluePokemon RedPokemon SnapPokemon YellowSuper Smash Bros.WWE: AttitudePokemon: PinballThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeMario PartyDriverFinal Fantasy VIIIMadden NFL 2000Star Wars Episode I: RacerNFL Blitz 2000Ready 2 Rumble: Boxing007: GoldenEyeGran TurismoSyphon Filter

2000The year 2000 began a streak of the annual Madden football release being in the top 10; this streak has continued every year since. This was also the last year for some time that was dominated by Nintendo games, though of course Nintendo’s iconic and popular games would continue to put up big sales numbers in years to come.

Pokemon Gold/SilverPokemon StadiumTony Hawk’s Pro SkaterTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s MaskMadden NFL 2001The SimsDiablo IIPokemon YellowPerfect DarkMario Party 2WWE No MercyWWE SmackdownGran Turismo 2007: The World Is Not EnoughDonkey Kong 64WWE Smackdown 2RollerCoaster TycoonFinal Fantasy IXNFL 2K1

2001GTA III marked a major moment for the series, as the shift to 3D proved to be tremendously popular, and a major source of inspiration for countless games to come. However, it wasn’t enough to unseat Madden. 2001 also marked another year of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater dominance, with not one but two games landing inside the top five.

Madden NFL 2002GTA IIITony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyGran Turismo 3: A-SpecThe SimsPokemon Gold/SilverPokemon Stadium 2NBA Live 02Pokemon CrystalMax PayneHalo: Combat EvolvedFinal Fantasy XSuper Mario AdvanceMadden NFL 2001Super Smash Bros. MeleeNBA Live 2001Luigi’s Mansion

2002GTA: Vice City was No. 1, and GTA III landed No. 3, but 2002 was also dominated by tons of EA-published games like Medal of Honor: Frontline, Madden 2003, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and 007 Nightfire.

GTA: Vice CityMadden NFL 2003GTA IIISpider-Man: The MovieMedal of Honor: FrontlineHarry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4Kingdom HeartsNCAA Football 2003The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers007: NightfireMortal Kombat: Deadly AllianceWarCraft III: Reign of ChaosTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3Halo: Combat EvolvedMax PayneSOCOM: US Navy SealsSuper Mario SunshineThe Sims007: Agent Under Fire

2003In the early-to-mid 2000s, Need for Speed was a super-popular franchise, as evidenced by Need for Speed Underground landing at No. 2. The run wouldn’t last, though, as Need for Speed never charted this high ever again and new releases haven’t appeared inside the top 20 for almost 20 years.

Madden NFL 2004Need for Speed UndergroundPokemon Ruby/SapphireEnter the MatrixTony Hawk’s UndergroundThe SimsTrue Crime: Streets of LAMedal of Honor: Rising SunNCAA Football 2004The Legend of Zelda: Wind WakerNBA Live 2004GTA: Vice CityThe Lord of the Rings: Return of the KingMario Kart: Double DashSoulCalibur IINBA Street Vol. 2Splinter CellRockstar Games Double Pack: GTAThe Simpsons: Hit & RunFinal Fantasy X-2

2004Halo’s big moment came in 2004; whereas Combat Evolved only ranked No. 14 back in 2001, Halo 2 charted No. 2 in its debut year, only behind GTA: San Andreas. The Halo series will continue to do well in years to come, as you’ll see.

GTA: San AndreasHalo 2Madden NFL 2005Need for Speed: Underground 2Spider-Man 2Pokemon Fire Red / Leaf GreenNCAA Football 2005Star Wars BattlefrontNBA Live 05MVP Baseball 2004Tony Hawk’s Underground 2Need for Speed: UndergroundNFL StreetCall of Duty: Finest HourThe Sims 2Shrek 2NFL 2K5The IncrediblesFight Night 2004SpongeBob Squarepants: The Movie

2005Call of Duty shows up in a big way for the first time in 2005, with Call of Duty 2 landing in the No. 3 position for the year. Every year since 2009, a Call of Duty release has been No. 1 or No. 2, running up through 2023.

Madden NFL 06Star Wars Battlefront IICall of Duty 2Need for Speed: Most WantedStar Wars Episode III: Revenge of the SithNCAA Football 06Gran Turismo 4: The Real Driving SimulatorGTA: San AndreasNBA Live 06Lego Star WarsMidnight Club 3: Dub EditionPokemon EmeraldThe Sims 2Tony Hawk’s American WastelandMVP Baseball 2005Resident Evil 4NintendogsNeed for Speed: Underground 2World of WarcraftSplinter Cell: Chaos Theory

2006Microsoft’s Gears of War series debuted in 2006 and did very well on Xbox 360, becoming the No. 2 best-selling game of the year. The franchise only declined from here in terms of its ranking on these lists, however. 2006 was also the last year where Need for Speed appears inside the top 20.

Madden NFL 07Gears of WarNCAA Football 07Guitar Hero IILego Star Wars II: The Original TrilogyCall of Duty 3CarsNeed for Speed: CarbonKingdom Hearts IIFight Night: Round 3The Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionGhost Recon: Advanced WarfighterThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight PrincessCall of Duty 2Need for Speed: Most WantedNew Super Mario Bros.Final Fantasy XIINintendogsWWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007Guitar Hero

20072007 was a huge year for big names, as this was the year that saw the release of Halo 3, Assassin’s Creed, CoD 4, and BioShock. But it was Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock that sold the most. Remember, though, this ranking is based on dollar sales, and music games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band benefited greatly from the plastic peripherals. Still, those games–now somewhat of a distant memory–did prove to be tremendously popular for multiple years.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of RockMadden NFL 08Guitar Hero IICall of Duty 4: Modern WarfareHalo 3Wii PlayRock BandAssassin’s CreedPokemon Diamond/PearlSuper Mario GalaxyMario Party 8NCAA Football 08WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 Featuring ECWWorld of Warcraft: Burning CrusadeTransformers: The GameSpider-Man 3The Legend of Zelda: Twilight PrincessGod of War IINintendogsBioShock

20082008 saw the release of GTA IV, but–despite how massive the franchise has become–it didn’t even crack the top five. The winner of 2008 was Rock Band, with GTA IV landing in the No. 8 position for the year.

Rock BandGuitar Hero: World TourWii FitGuitar Hero III: Legends of RockMadden NFL 09Wii PlayCall of Duty: World at WarGrand Theft Auto IVMario Kart WiiSuper Smash Bros. BrawlRock Band 2Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareGears of War 2Star Wars: The Force AwakensGuitar Hero: AerosmithFallout 3Lego Indiana Jones: The Original AdventureMario & Sonic at the Olympic GamesNCAA Football 09Rainbow Six Vegas 2

20092009’s top-sellers included lots of Wii games, as Nintendo’s motion-controlled console far surpassed the install base of its previous consoles. 2009 also marked the start of Call of Duty’s win streak that was only interrupted in 2013 (GTA 5), 2018 (Red Dead Redemption II), and 2023 (Hogwarts Legacy).

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IIWii FitNew Super Mario Bros.Madden NFL 10Wii Fit PlusWii Sports ResortGuitar Hero: World TourHalo 3Rock Band 2Mario Kart WiiWii PlayAssassin’s Creed IIResident Evil VCall of Duty: World at WarUFC 2009 UndisputedThe Beatles Rock BandDJ HeroBatman: Arkham AsylumLeft 4 Dead 2NCAA Football 10

20102010 marked the first time an NBA 2K game made the list, and it only got better for the series in ensuing years as the franchise continued to dominate the top-seller charts.

Call of Duty: Black OpsHalo ReachWii Fit PlusMadden NFL 11New Super Mario Bros.Red Dead RedemptionCall of Duty: Modern Warfare IIPokemon Heart Gold / Soul SilverAssassin’s Creed BrotherhoodNBA 2K11Battlefield: Bad Company 2Just Dance 2Super Mario Galaxy 2God of War IIIStarCraft II: Wings of LibertyFallout: New VegasWii Sports ResortMario Kart WiiNCAA Football 11Final Fantasy XIII

2011This was a breakout year for The Elder Scrolls and Bethesda in general. The Fallout and Elder Scrolls franchises hadn’t charted exceptionally well until 2011, but Skyrim continued to appear in the years to come (thanks in part to numerous re-releases), and later on Fallout 4 would perform exceptionally well.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimMadden NFL 12Battlefield 3Call of Duty: Black OpsJust Dance 3Gears of War 3Batman: Arkham CityPokemon Black/WhiteAssassin’s Creed RevelationsMortal KombatNBA 2K12New Super Mario Bros.NCAA Football 12Just Dance 2LA NoireZumba FitnessFIFA Soccer 12Skylanders Spyro’s AdventureMarvel vs. Capcom 3

20122012 marked the best-ever showing for the Assassin’s Creed series, with ACIII finishing No. 4 for the year. Borderlands 2 was another notable release that landed No. 5 after the first game didn’t make the charts years prior. Diablo III only came in at No. 13, but it would go on to become one of the best-selling games ever as it was dramatically improved and ported to consoles.

Call of Duty: Black Ops IIHalo 4Madden NFL 13Assassin’s Creed IIIBorderlands 2NBA 2K13Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IIIJust Dance 4Mass Effect 3Skylanders: GiantsThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimFIFA Soccer 13Diablo IIINCAA Football 13New Super Mario Bros.*Battlefield 3NBA 2K12Far Cry 3Lego Batman 2: DC Super HeroesSkylanders Spyro’s Adventure*Digital sales not included

20132013 saw the release of Rockstar’s blockbuster action game GTA V, and, well, we all know what happened in the years after. GTA V kept selling and selling and selling–it went on to make the top 20 of every subsequent year until 2023, when that streak finally ended.

GTA VCall of Duty: GhostsMadden NFL 25Battlefield 4Assassin’s Creed IV: Black FlagNBA 2K14Call of Duty: Black Ops IIPokemon X/Y*Disney InfinityBioShock InfiniteFIFA 14Skylanders: Swap ForceInjustice: Gods Among UsThe Last of UsMinecraftBatman: Arkham OriginsJust Dance 2014NCAA Football 14NBA 2K13Tomb Raider*Digital sales not included

2014In 2014, CoD: Advanced Warfare reigned supreme, but other storylines included Destiny coming in at No. 2–a strong start for Bungie’s first post-Halo series–and this being the last year where Disney Infinity/Skylanders-style titles with physical figures landed on the charts. Additionally, 2014 was the first time Mario Kart 8 showed up. It didn’t rank very highly (No. 17), but that could be because the Wii U didn’t do all that well. MK8 picked up steam again after the launch of the Switch port and it would become a sales juggernaut–it stands as the best-selling game on both Wii U and Switch by a sizable margin.

Call of Duty: Advanced WarfareDestinyGrand Theft Auto VMadden NFL 15Watch DogsNBA 2K15Super Smash Bros.*TitanfallFIFA 15MinecraftFar Cry 4Call of Duty: GhostsPokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire*Middle-earth: Shadow of MordorDragon Age: InquisitionDisney Infinity 2.0 Marvel SuperheroesMario Kart 8*NBA 2K14Diablo IIISkylanders Trap Team*Digital sales not included

2015Black Ops III was 2015’s biggest seller, but another storyline was that the new Battlefield and Halo games–Battlefield Hardline and Halo 5–didn’t crack the top 5. Also notable is that Minecraft never shows up very highly in any yearly chart–it reached a peak of No. 10 in 2014–but it showed up eight times overall and stands as the second best-selling game ever.

Call of Duty: Black Ops IIIFallout 4GTA VStar Wars BattlefrontMadden NFL 16NBA 2K16Mortal Kombat XDestinyHalo 5: GuardiansBatman: Arkham KnightBattlefield HardlineFIFA 16Call of Duty: Advanced WarfareDying LightMinecraftMetal Gear Solid V: The Phantom PainThe Elder Scrolls OnlineDragon Ball: XenoverseLego: Jurassic WorldThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt**Digital sales not included

2016It is the year 2016 and Skyrim is still selling well, landing at No. 9 for the year 2016. Also of note is that Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs 2 slipped down the charts to No. 19 after a strong debut for the first game at No. 5 years prior. Another new Ubisoft franchise, The Division, made it all the way to No. 3. What’s more, the fan-favorite Titanfall 2 only reached No. 18.

Call of Duty: Infinite WarfareBattlefield 1The DivisionNBA 2K17Madden NFL 17GTA VPokemon Sun/Moon*OverwatchThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimCall of Duty: Black Ops 3FIFA 17Final Fantasy XVDoomDark Souls IIIMinecraftUncharted 4: A Thief’s EndFar Cry PrimalTitanfall 2Watch Dogs 2Gears of War 4*Digital sales not included

20172017 marked the first appearance of a Zelda game on these lists in a decade, with Breath of the Wild landing at No. 5, and that’s not including any digital sales. 2017 saw the release of the Switch, and the good times just started rolling for the company this year, with Mario Kart 8 also surging up to No. 10.

Call of Duty: WWIINBA 2K18Destiny 2Madden NFL 18The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*GTA VGhost Recon: WildlandsStar Wars Battlefront IISuper Mario Odyssey*Mario Kart 8*Assassin’s Creed OriginsFIFA 18For HonorInjustice 2Horizon Zero DawnMass Effect AndromedaResident Evil 7Rainbow Six SiegeOverwatchMiddle-earth: Shadow of War*Digital sales not included

2018Call of Duty’s annual win streak was interrupted in 2018 by Red Dead Redemption II, and another big winner was the PlayStation-exclusive God of War (No. 8). Monster Hunter World also put up big numbers and finished ninth for the year, marking the only appearance for the franchise in these lists.

Red Dead Redemption IICall of Duty: Black Ops 4NBA 2K19Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*Madden NFL 19Spider-Man’Far Cry 5God fo WarMonster Hunter WorldPokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu*GTA VAssassin’s Creed OdysseyMario Kart 8*Fallout 76FIFA 19Battlefield VSuper Mario Odyssey*Dragon Ball FighterZThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*Call of Duty: WWII*Digital sales not included

2019One big storyline from 2019 was that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order did very well, landing at No. 7 and becoming the highest result for a single–player, non-Lego Star Wars game since 2005. 2019 also saw the release of CoD: Modern Warfare, which was a beloved reboot of the Call of Duty sub-series and a sales powerhouse.

Call of Duty: Modern WarfareNBA 2K20Madden NFL 20Pokemon Sword/Shield*Borderlands 3Mortal Kombat 11Star Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate*Kingdom Hearts IIIThe Division 2Mario Kart 8*GTA VRed Dead Redemption IIMinecraftAnthemFIFA 20Resident Evil 2Luigi’s Mansion 3*Days GoneNew Super Mario Bros.**Digital sales not included

2020The world was rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and a lot of people stayed home and played games. A notable occurrence during the year was that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Modern Warfare finished No. 1 and No. 2 for the year, marking the only time there were CoD games in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. (Perhaps not coincidentally, this was the year Call of Duty: Warzone launched, potentially boosting other games in the series.) Animal Crossing: New Horizons also performed wildly well, no doubt thanks in part to stay-at-home orders and people looking for something fun, cozy, and wholesome to play.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarCall of Duty: Modern WarfareNBA 2K21Animal Crossing: New Horizons*Madden NFL 21Assassin’s Creed ValhallaThe Last of Us: Part IIGTA VGhost of TsushimaDoom EternalMario Kart 8*Super Mario 3D All-Stars*Final Fantasy VII RemakeMarvel’s AvengersSpider-Man: Miles MoralesMinecraftNBA 2K20Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*FIFA 21Red Dead Redemption II*Digital sales not included

2021Call of Duty: Vanguard was 2021’s top-selling game in the US for 2021, a year that also saw NBA 2K22 finish second and another CoD game, Black Ops Cold War, finish third. The poorly received and buggy Battlefield 2042 managed to finish No. 6 for the year, despite its issues.

Call of Duty: VanguardNBA 2K22Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarMadden NFL 22Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl*Battlefield 2042Spider-Man: Miles MoralesMario Kart 8GTA VResident Evil VillageMLB The Show 21Far Cry 6Super Mario 3D World*FIFA 22MinecraftAnimal Crossing: New Horizons*NBA 2K21Assassin’s Creed ValhallaSuper Smash Bros. UltimateBack 4 Blood*Digital sales not included

2022In 2022, Elden Ring was the top-selling game in the US every month from February until CoD: Modern Warfare II came out. It finished No. 2 for the year, which is especially notable given that From Software’s earlier Souls-likes are absent from these lists (save for Dark Souls III ranking No. 14 in 2016.)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IIIElden RingNBA 2K23Madden NFL 23God of War RagnarokLego Star Wars: The Skywalker SagaPokemon Scarlet / Violet*FIFA 23Pokemon Legends: Arceus*Horizon 2: Forbidden WestGTA VWWE 2K22Tiny Tina’s WonderlandsMLB The Show 22Mario Kart 8*Call of Duty: VanguardNBA 2K22Gran Turismo 7Red Dead Redemption IIKirby and the Forgotten Land**Digital sales not included

2023Call of Duty’s win streak was interrupted once again in 2023 when Hogwarts Legacy outsold Modern Warfare III and every other game. Another notable takeaway was that Starfield debuted lower than previous Bethesda releases. This might be explained, however, due to how Starfield was also released on Game Pass for all subscribers, something that adds further complexity to examining video game sales in recent years.

Hogwarts LegacyCall of Duty: Modern Warfare IIIMadden NFL 24Spider-Man 2The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom*Diablo IVCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Mortal Kombat 1Star Wars Jedi: SurvivorEA Sports FC 24StarfieldSuper Mario Bros. Wonder*Resident Evil 4MLB The Show 23^Dead Island 2Final Fantasy XVIStreet Fighter 6Elden RingMario Kart 8*Minecraft*Digital sales not included

^ Xbox and Switch digital sales not included