All gamers know that the latest releases don’t come cheap – but did you know how much money some of the most popular games have made? Read on to find out!
Did you know games from the 1970s and 1980s have made millions of dollars for their developers. Even the best games can’t compete with some of the classics like Space Invaders when it comes to turning a profit!
Today, we’re going to take a look at ten video games that are among the highest-grossing of all time. From retro classics like Tetris to addictive mobile games such as Candy Crush, here are our top ten high-earning video games!
1. Candy Crush Saga
Even if you never jumped on the Candy Crush bandwagon, you probably know at least one person who was addicted to the game in recent years. The addictive mobile game is free to download, but the in-app purchases mean the game turned over almost $1 billion between 2017-18!
There are now hundreds of spin-offs of Candy Crush with various themes. Bejeweled is perhaps the most popular, in which players have to match gems of the same color. Other alternatives involve Zookeeper Battle, where you have to combine the same animals, and Pokemon Shuffle. As you probably guessed, this is a game for Pokemon fans, as you have to match rows of three of the same Pokemon character.
2. Grand Theft Auto V
The GTA series remains as popular as ever, and this installment is by far the biggest earner. Year after year, GTA V features in lists of the best-selling games of the year, and fans are eagerly awaiting news of the next release in the series.
It’s thought that the game has made a massive $6 billion – that’s not to mention previous games in the series! Perhaps what makes this game so popular compared to previous installments is the online element. This allows players to cooperate or compete in online missions and explore the open world.
3. Tetris
Despite being almost 40 years old, Tetris is still popular with fans young and old. The game was originally released on PC, then soon after on Gameboy, and is currently available on Nintendo Switch. There’s also Tetris Effect, available on all major consoles, which shares its name with a phenomenon based on the original game!
Tetris has sold over 100 million copies, ranking it among one of the best-selling games of all time. It’s now available as a mobile download – users paying to play the addictive game has undoubtedly also contributed to its place as one of the highest-grossing games ever.
4. Minecraft
In spite of the simplistic graphics, Minecraft quickly became a huge hit soon after it was released in 2011. The game soon spawned a massive range of merchandise – everything from t-shirts and backpacks to plush toys and toy swords.
A few years after the game’s release, Microsoft bought it for an eye-watering $2.5 billion! It’s estimated that there are over 140 million active players – chances are you know someone who is a fan!
5. Wii Fit
It seemed like everyone was playing Wii, and particularly Wii Fit, when it first came out – it was even popular with those who don’t consider themselves gamers. Wii Fit was especially popular as it was one of the first games that got players off the sofa and combined gaming with exercise! It’s thought that the game has grossed over $5 billion over the years.
6. Space Invaders
Space Invaders might have been released in the 1970s, but if you walk into an arcade today, you can often find new versions of the game! It was also released on Atari consoles and sold millions of copies. With inflation accounted for, Space Invaders can be considered the biggest-selling game of all time – almost $14 billion in today’s money!
7. Red Dead Redemption 2
Despite only being released a few years ago, this title has already made over half a billion dollars. The game is released by Rockstar, like GTA V, so you can be sure this publisher knows a thing or two about great games! And, like GTA V, Red Dead Redemption 2 has an online mode that helps make the company even more money.
8. FIFA
The FIFA franchise has been on the go for many years, and in recent years it’s thought that the series has made around 20% of EA’s total profits. Each year, a new title is released on multiple platforms, featuring the best players from some of the world’s most famous soccer teams.
9. Pokemon Go
Pokemon games are always popular, but Pokemon Go was a game-changer. This mobile game forced players to get up and about, wander the streets and capture Pokemon using their phone camera!
Pokemon Go grossed over $1 billion in profit in both 2017 and 2018, but the game isn’t without its controversies. Thousands of accidents have occurred as a result of players wandering out into traffic without looking!
10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim is our last high-earning game, and it has achieved these astronomical profits thanks to several re-releases. The game is available on most major platforms, and there have also been VR versions and ‘ultimate’ editions – all adding to the developer’s profits.
