As a gamer, there are just a few times when something completely takes over the internet – you know, when a new game or announcement just explodes online. It’s usually a mix of excitement and maybe a little craziness, but whatever it is, everyone who’s online at the time feels it and remembers where they were when it happened. It’s a special feeling!
There’s no guaranteed way for a game to become hugely popular, no matter if the attention is positive or negative.
Sometimes it’s funny glitches like characters standing in awkward poses, or surprisingly successful game releases. Other times, it’s more serious issues like legal battles, website crashes, or even unexpectedly attractive characters. For this list, I wanted to include a mix of everything – after all, there are countless ways for something to go viral online!
Alright, let’s get right into it! I’m about to share some games that completely blew up – they didn’t just entertain us, they took over the internet and everyone was talking about them. Each one did something totally unique and unforgettable.
10. Cyberpunk 2077
Breaking The Internet (And Then Fixing It)
It’s no surprise that Cyberpunk 2077 is on this list. The game’s launch was a huge event in gaming, but unfortunately, it became infamous for all the wrong reasons, rather than the success CD Projekt Red intended.
Everyone was incredibly excited for this game, as it had been years in the making and promised to revolutionize open-world RPGs. Unfortunately, when it was released, particularly on older consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One, it was plagued with problems. Players experienced numerous bugs, crashes, and performance issues, quickly turning their anticipation into widespread frustration.
Almost immediately, the internet exploded with videos, memes, and stories from players about all sorts of problems with the game. It was complete chaos, dominating social media everywhere you looked.
Despite a rough start, the developers continued to improve Cyberpunk 2077 with updates and fixes over several years. Now, the game is not only stable and reliable, but truly excellent – which is why we’re including it on our list of games that became massive online sensations.
9. Resident Evil Village
Falling For A Nine-Foot-Tall Vampire Lady
Resident Evil Village generated a huge amount of excitement before it even came out, and it was all because of one character: Lady Dimitrescu. She quickly became a fan favorite and captured everyone’s attention.
Honestly, the moment I saw her in the first trailers, I knew she was going to be huge – and I don’t just mean physically! Her design was so graceful, and she just had this air of mystery. Plus, her voice was amazing! But let’s be real, it was her height that really got everyone talking. The internet exploded with memes and fan art – she became an instant sensation. I spent hours just scrolling through everything people were creating!
The excitement around Lady Dimitrescu became so widespread that even Capcom, the game’s developer, embraced it. They featured her prominently in their marketing and continued to highlight her long after the game, Village, was released.
8. Palworld
Pokémon With Guns (And a Lawsuit On the Side)
Palworld quickly became incredibly popular when it released in early 2024. It combined elements similar to Pokémon with a surprising and unexpected addition: guns and a generally wild, unpredictable style.
Honestly, the player numbers were insane! It actually broke some records on Steam, and for a while, it was going head-to-head with massive games like Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3 – it was wild!
Players worldwide quickly fell in love with this surprisingly enjoyable and quirky open-world survival game. You explore the world, capture creatures called “Pals,” and team up with them in battles – and these Pals can even wield firearms!
It blew up online, seriously! Everyone was sharing memes and just generally loving it, which was awesome. But all that attention ended up getting Nintendo‘s notice, and it sparked a really intense legal fight – one of the biggest the gaming community has seen in ages, and it’s still happening.
7. Among Us
Our Little Quarantine
Honestly, the pandemic was rough, but gaming really helped me stay connected with friends and family, especially those I couldn’t see in person. And nothing blew up quite like Among Us! It’s crazy to think that during a time when we were all supposed to be isolating, it actually became one of the most social and fun ways to hang out with people.
InnerSloth’s game, originally released in 2018, became incredibly popular in 2020, quickly becoming a go-to for online gatherings thanks to its simple and funny gameplay. While the game – where players try to complete tasks on a spaceship while an impostor secretly works against them – might have caused some friendly arguments, that was all part of the enjoyment.
It definitely united people during a difficult time, and the funny memes it created are still popular, easily securing its spot at number seven.
6. Elden Ring
The Internet Died and Respawned
When Elden Ring came out in 2022, it redefined what players expected from fantasy action RPGs, becoming a benchmark for future games in the genre.
The game quickly attracted both longtime fans of the Soulsborne series and new players, successfully building upon the familiar formula while remaining true to its core identity.
The game’s popularity is clear from the numbers: it reached almost one million players simultaneously at its peak, according to SteamDB. By the end of the year, it also won more Game of the Year awards than any other game, surpassing previous record holders like The Last of Us Part II and The Witcher 3.
The game’s influence on its genre is enormous, proving FromSoftware’s skill and allowing the studio to innovate in exciting new ways.
On top of everything else, the game’s expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, caused another huge buzz online. It was one of the best-received gaming releases of 2024, and was even considered a contender for Game of the Year.
5. No Man’s Sky
The Greatest Comeback Ever
Honestly, this game is infamous. It’s probably the biggest letdown of the last ten years, and it totally taught everyone a lesson about why you shouldn’t preorder games. It’s the example people point to when warning others about preordering!
No Man’s Sky initially gained a bad reputation because the developers promised a lot but didn’t fully deliver on those promises. This led to significant disappointment among fans, which was widely expressed on social media and gaming forums through posts and memes.
Initially, Hello Games‘s No Man’s Sky faced criticism, but the developers turned things around. They released dozens of free updates after the game launched, slowly transforming it into the vast and detailed experience players had hoped for.
Although it shares a few parallels with the launch of Cyberpunk 2077, No Man’s Sky is remarkable for its incredible turnaround and is considered one of the biggest success stories in gaming.
4. The Last of Us Part II
The Game That Split The Internet Right Down The Middle
I’m a huge fan of The Last of Us, and playing The Last of Us Part II was an incredibly powerful and emotional experience – many other gamers feel the same way!
This game created a huge amount of excitement online, generating tons of discussion before, during, and after its launch – and it’s still a popular topic today.
The initial experience was marred by significant spoilers leaking online, revealing major plot points and character fates. I distinctly remember actively avoiding the internet to try and stay spoiler-free, and surprisingly, it worked! When the game finally launched, experiencing the story was more impactful than I anticipated. It proved incredibly divisive among fans, with strong reactions on both sides – some loved it, while others strongly disliked it.
People are still strongly affected by The Last of Us Part II, as discussions about the game continue to thrive, demonstrating how powerfully it impacted players – whether positively or negatively.
3. Hollow Knight: Silksong
A Sequel So Hyped It Broke The Stores
After waiting more than seven years for the sequel to Hollow Knight, it’s no surprise the announcement caused a huge reaction online.
Putting the humor aside, Hollow Knight: Silksong has become incredibly highly anticipated in the indie game world over the past few years, consistently topping Steam’s most wishlisted games. Interestingly, much of this excitement built despite the developers, Team Cherry, choosing to remain completely quiet about the game – a very different approach than most game studios take.
When the game was finally released, so many players rushed to buy it online that digital stores on almost every platform temporarily crashed. The resulting chaos quickly became a source of memes, celebration, and widespread online excitement – I definitely experienced it firsthand!
2. Fortnite
Every Time You Blink, Fortnite Breaks The Internet Again
Fortnite has become a huge part of gaming culture. It didn’t just popularize the battle royale style of game, it also went much further, creating some incredibly creative team-ups with other popular franchises.
Honestly, this game is overflowing with awesome skins now – they’re pulling inspiration from everywhere, like movies, TV shows, comics, and even other games! But it’s not just about the looks, they keep things fresh with regular events and these crazy in-game concerts that actually feel like huge events everyone’s talking about.
What truly made this event unforgettable was the “Big Bang,” which caused a huge buzz online. This in-game event concluded Chapter 4 with a fantastic live concert by Eminem, amazing even people who don’t usually play Fortnite.
Honestly, as a Fortnite fan, you just get used to opening social media and immediately seeing everyone freaking out over whatever crazy new thing Epic has added to the game. It’s become totally expected at this point!
1. GTA V
The Heist That Keeps Robbing The Internet
Few video game franchises have become as widely known as Grand Theft Auto. The huge excitement surrounding the upcoming GTA 6 – with its trailers gaining hundreds of millions of views in just a few days – proves just how much of a cultural impact it has had, and it’s already shaping up to be the most anticipated game of the decade.
In 2013, Grand Theft Auto 5 really kicked off the current trend of incredibly successful game launches. The hype around its release was huge, breaking sales records and becoming the fastest-selling entertainment product ever at that point—it made $800 million in one day and over $1 billion in just three days. And, naturally, the internet went wild, especially when GTA Online was released a few months later.
Even after more than ten years, Grand Theft Auto 5 is still one of the most popular games ever, and it continues to grab attention. A great example of this was in 2020 when it was offered for free on the Epic Games Store – the surge in demand actually caused the platform to temporarily crash, demonstrating that the game’s immense popularity hadn’t diminished at all.
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2025-11-05 20:43