Unbelievable! These Are the Top-Selling Games of the 2020s That Broke Records!

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Summary

  • Gaming remains popular with massive sales figures from new IPs and upcoming releases like GTA 6.
  • Best-selling games of the decade exceed 20 million sales, with notable titles like Zelda, Black Myth, and Pokemon.
  • Top-selling games include Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, Hogwarts Legacy, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

The surge in gaming’s popularity continues unabated, with Steam player numbers steadily increasing, digital game sales on the rise, and even smaller studios making surprising releases. Since their debut in 2020, the current generation of consoles has now garnered a substantial user base, leading to impressive sales for highly-anticipated games. Furthermore, the upcoming release of Nintendo Switch 2 adds more fuel to this gaming boom.

As the much-anticipated GTA 6 draws nearer, it’s clear that Rockstar’s latest offering is poised to break numerous sales records and cement its status as one of the most successful titles of the decade. Before its arrival, however, we’ve already witnessed a slew of blockbuster releases in the 2020s that have racked up millions of lifetime sales within just months of their launch. Interestingly, many of the top-selling games this decade are new creations rather than sequels to well-known titles, although some do originate from existing entertainment franchises.

Here are the top-selling paid video games from the 2020s that have sold over 20 million units, with verified lifetime sales figures. We’re focusing solely on games for which we have concrete data, excluding free-to-play titles and their monetization earnings, as well as sports simulators like FIFA or EA Sports FC unless specific sales numbers are disclosed.

Honorable Mentions:

Despite not having sold 20 million units collectively, these games are notable enough to be discussed alongside the top-selling titles of the current decade.

  • Monster Hunter Rise – Over 16 million
  • Nintendo Switch Sports – Over 16 million
  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Over 16 million
  • Baldur’s Gate 3 – Over 15 million
  • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Over 15 million
  • God of War Ragnarök – Over 15 million
  • Palworld – Over 15 million (Steam only)
  • Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl – Over 15 million

8. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Lifetime Sales: Approaching 22 Million

Following the enormous success of “Breath of the Wild” (with over 34 million copies sold), “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” has already established itself as one of the top-selling Nintendo games of the last ten years. The potential release of Switch 2 could potentially skyrocket the sales of both “Zelda” titles.

By March 2025, the game “Tears of the Kingdom” has sold an impressive 21.7 million copies worldwide, considering that it’s only available on a single platform. It’s interesting to note that its predecessor, “Breath of the Wild,” was initially launched on the Wii U, with a six-year interval between their releases. Given this rapid growth in sales, it won’t be long before “Tears of the Kingdom” matches or even surpasses the sales figures of its predecessor.

7. Black Myth: Wukong

Lifetime Sales: Over 25 Million

Last year, the debut game Black Myth: Wukong astonished the gaming industry, ranking as the second most-played title on Steam, trailing only behind PUBG. Before its release, there were doubts about whether it could meet the high expectations set by its stunning showcase videos and previews, considering it was a new studio’s first game. However, Black Myth: Wukong exceeded all expectations, establishing itself as one of the finest action games in recent memory and one of the most visually stunning games built on Unreal Engine 5.

The highly anticipated game “Black Myth: Wukong” hasn’t been launched on Xbox Series X/S yet because of optimization issues, but it has still managed to sell more than 25 million copies on PC and PS5. This makes it one of the most successful game launches of the 2020s thus far. This success underscores the vast Asian gaming market (approximately 70% of its audience is from China) and the enduring appeal of the main character.

6. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Lifetime Sales: Approaching 27 Million

The Pokemon Scarlet and Violet titles have truly shone among the franchise’s successful releases. Even compared to Pokemon’s own lofty sales standards, these games, launched towards the end of 2022, have already sold a staggering 26.8 million units. This figure surpasses even the impressive sales of previous releases like Pokemon Sword and Shield and Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Something even more noteworthy is that Scarlet and Violet are exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, implying that the demand for this console might be skyrocketing due to the popularity of the Pokémon series. It’s intriguing to speculate about how swiftly the upcoming Pokémon game, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, will hit sales of 10 million units when it releases later in the year.

5. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Lifetime Sales: Over 30 Million

Previous iterations of “Call of Duty” have amassed sales exceeding 30 million units collectively, a figure that’s usually impressive. However, Activision has yet to disclose the cumulative sales figures for the “Call of Duty” games released since 2020. Fortunately, it’s been confirmed that “Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War” has sold more than 30 million copies so far, generating $700 million in revenue during its initial weeks post-launch, and securing the title as the top-selling game of 2020 amidst the pandemic peak.

Following that, numerous additional top-performing artists in the series have emerged, although specific numbers aren’t known, it’s reasonable to infer that the sales of both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are likely comparable to those of Black Ops Cold War. Notably, Modern Warfare 2 generated over $800 million in its first three days and was one of the largest PlayStation Store launches ever, while Black Ops 6 holds the record for the biggest launch in the series. Although Black Ops 6 hasn’t yet reached the 30 million sales milestone, given its recent release, it’s predicted to rank among the top-selling Call of Duty games ever.

4. Cyberpunk 2077

Lifetime Sales: Over 30 Million

Despite a bumpy start and a troublesome past on previous-generation consoles, Cyberpunk 2077 has successfully overturned its initial negative feedback. Over time, it has grown into an industry titan due to the unwavering commitment of CD Projekt Red’s team and their continuous efforts in updates and support.

Over the past few days, I’ve been absolutely thrilled to learn about the fantastic achievement of my favorite game, Cyberpunk 2077. It’s just been confirmed that it has surpassed the 30 million sales mark! This impressive milestone is likely thanks to the release of the Phantom Liberty expansion and the monumental 2.0 update.

Although it still lags behind The Witcher 3 in terms of sales, having sold over 50 million units, we must remember that Cyberpunk 2077 is just the beginning for this incredible franchise. The results so far are nothing short of outstanding and well-deserved.

To make things even more exciting, they’ve announced that Cyberpunk 2077 will be launching on the Switch 2 – a move that promises another significant sales boost in the upcoming years!

3. Elden Ring

Lifetime Sales: Over 30 Million

The game Elden Ring, launched in 2022, has revolutionized its genre by making the challenging world of soulslike games accessible to countless new players. It continues to captivate audiences, having remained popular for years since its release. With the addition of the expansive Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, Elden Ring has now sold over 30 million copies, placing it among the top-selling video games of the decade and a monumental achievement for FromSoftware and Bandai Namco.

It is expected that “Elden Ring” will continue to be a popular choice in 2025 with the releases of both “Elden Ring Nightreign” and the “Tarnished Edition”. The Tarnished Edition, in particular, could significantly boost the game’s total sales since many existing Elden Ring owners might also wish to own the game on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.

2. Hogwarts Legacy

Lifetime Sales: Over 30 Million

Drawing upon the widely acclaimed Harry Potter series, the game Hogwarts Legacy finally offered what millions of enthusiasts had longed for over many years – an immersive open-world experience set within a cherished universe. It granted players the opportunity to shape distinctive characters and embark on their journey at the esteemed Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a world brought to vivid reality. Despite some contentious issues surrounding the game, Hogwarts Legacy was poised for success.

Just as anticipated, the sales figures for Hogwarts Legacy have been sky-high, with various outlets suggesting that the game has shifted over 34 million units (although this figure hasn’t yet received official confirmation from Warner Bros.). With Hogwarts Legacy already slated for release on the Switch 2, it seems likely that its sales will only climb higher in the years to come. However, one puzzling aspect of Hogwarts Legacy has been the apparent shelving of proposed DLC expansions, despite its impressive sales performance.

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Lifetime Sales: Approaching 48 Million

In 2020, Animal Crossing: New Horizons turned out to be the perfect game for numerous individuals, offering a comfortable and engaging environment where people could interact with each other. While it’s difficult to quantify the direct influence of the game on Nintendo Switch console sales, its impact was undeniably significant, considering that it has sold an astounding 47.8 million copies so far.

As someone who’s recently jumped into the world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, I can’t help but feel a sense of awe at the game’s popularity. With every copy sold at full price or nearly so – considering how rare Switch first-party title discounts are – it’s no wonder players have been drawn to both the console and the game. This phenomenon has earned Animal Crossing: New Horizons the title of the best-selling game of the 2020s thus far, making it a tough act for even the much-anticipated GTA 6 to outshine its remarkable success for the rest of the decade.

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2025-05-11 23:55