What is the most popular game in the world? [Answered]

It’s not easy to come up with a list of the most popular games because there are countless of them. And they have also been released on different platforms (ie. eSports, Classics, etc.).

Games have evolved dramatically in the past few decades. What started out as blocky graphics have now become amazing graphics that suit the modern consoles and methods of gaming.

Back then, we mostly played on consoles and arcade machines. The selection of games for these devices wasn’t as extensive as what we have today. Now there are also Smartphones, another platform people use to play games.

Now back to the question, what is the most popular game in the world?

While it’s impossible to squeeze them all here, you should be familiar with the following ones because they were major hits.

The Top 10 Games in the World

1. Pokémon Go

This was a worldwide phenomenon when it was released in 2016. It was praised as a game that revolutionized AR implementation on mobile devices.

It’s hard to escape the euphoria because people left their house to catch Pokemons outside. They were glued to their Smartphone screens and often flocked together in unexpected places.

2. Grand Theft Auto

GTA is another game franchise that deserves a spot on this list. This game isn’t new, but for some reason, it refuses to fall out of style. To this day, people still dig it. It’s simply one of the best games with the most enduring popularity.

Part of its appeal is it takes the player to the world of Liberty City. There’s much going on in this game that we’d never partake in in real life. It’s fun, though, because it’s all about freedom and doing whatever you want to do.

3. Minecraft

Minecraft has an enormous player base. It has sold over 200 million copies. Of all people who’ve bought the games, they also have relatives to whom they talk about it. Thus, it increases the visibility of this game. Minecraft is still one of the most well-known titles today despite being released over a decade ago.

Just like GTA, it gives much freedom to its players. There are no rules to comply with. You can do anything at your disposal and create your own world. The premise is simple. It’s about building your own stuff with the supplies provided. The whole thing looks blocky, but despite the unique visual presentation, many people are hooked on the game.

4. Call of Duty

Call of Duty went down in history as one of the most favorite franchises of all time. It was huge back then and managed to secure a big player base. Besides, the mobile version was released at a time when the industry was experiencing rapid growth. Needless to say, Call of Duty is addictive.

There are complex elements in it, but the gameplay isn’t that difficult, so everyone can join in and enjoy the game. Many describe it as easy to play, but not easy to master.

Another reason behind its popularity is younger gamers love it so much. It’s no surprise that if you can get noticed by this demographic, you’re on the verge of breaking through.

5. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

Also known as PUBG, this battle royale game takes you to a world full of players trying to be the last man standing. Throughout the game, you’ll come across different types of weapons. It can be overwhelming for new players, but that’s the thing that makes it addictive.

You have to learn how to use the weapons to take down the enemies, so you’re the only one left. Another interesting thing about the game is it has several modes available, all of which have distinct characteristics.

The Classic Mode, for example, has a total of 4 maps. Meanwhile, in Arcade Mode, you can choose between Mini-Zone, Quick Match, and more.

6. Angry Birds

If you love mobile gaming, you may stumble upon the Angry Birds franchise while searching for games to install. Angry Birds was extremely popular because it’s the perfect game to kill time. Everyone can play because the gameplay is simple. The visual aspect is also remarkable.

While it’s portrayed in 2D, it looks very appealing. The good also music takes to the next level. Every time a bird is thrown away, it makes a unique sound. There are many different sounds tied to various elements in the game, which further boosts the experience.

7. Crossfire

Crossfire ranks the highest among games with the most player count. It has collected over 1 billion users cumulatively, putting it ahead of other famous titles like Fortnite and Candy Crush Saga. It’s a first-person shooter game developed by SmileGate. It will remind you of classic FPS games in some ways.

The features are also awesome, like various gameplay modes. Besides, in terms of PC requirements, it’s not too demanding. Assuming that your PC is new, it should be able to run on it regardless of the type.

8. Super Mario Bros

Super Mario Bros is a classic game that you can tell from its graphics. But although it’s a thing of the past, this game was widely touted as the saver of the gaming industry. It along with Nintendo Entertainment System burst onto the scene when the demand for video games was at an all-time low.

It proved itself to be a fun game and worth buying. As of today, it has sold over 40 million copies, making it one of the best-selling Nintendo games of all time.

9. Wii Sports

Collectively, Mario is still ahead of other Nintendo franchises. But if we count the games individually, then Wii sports takes the cake. Wii Sports is relatively new compared to Super Mario Bros, but its success was tremendous. It has sold around 82 million copies.

Looking at how the console performed commercially, though, it didn’t come as a surprise. The Nintendo Wii has secured a place in the top ten of the most successful consoles, sitting comfortably along with popular releases like the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360.

Wii Sports gained much praise for its interactive features. Besides, anyone can play it. You don’t have to be a professional to know how to play.

10. Tetris

Tetris has a long history. Starting in 1984, the game didn’t take off right away. It was Alexey Pajitnov the person behind the creation of this puzzle game. The premise is simple, you have to fit the blocks consisting of 4 squares into rows. When there’s no space in between, the line will be cleared out, freeing up space for more pieces called Tetrominos.

Nintendo was responsible for introducing this game to the whole world and many variations have been spawned since. Tetris puts together simplicity and complexity. While the objective is simple, the execution can be difficult. This makes Tetris always exciting to play even long after your first introduction to the game.

FAQs – The Most Popular Game in the World

What is the most played game in 2019?

It’s Fortnite, which is no surprise given how ubiquitous it was that year. There was a moment when a total of 8.3 million gamers were playing at the same time across different platforms.

That’s an impressive figure because the second position, which was PUBG, had only 3.2 people playing concurrently in January of that year.

What is the most played game in the world 2020?

Believe it or not, it’s still Fornite. The total number of players even increased from the previous year. It broke the record with a 12.3 million concurrent player peak.

For those unaware, the high figure actually coincided with the anticipation of Travis Scott’s new single. The major event happened earlier this year.

What video game will be the best-selling in 2021?

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War maintains its throne this year, owing to its availability from the beginning of the year, as well as its profitable sales performance.

Which is the no 1 game in the world in mobile?

Monster Strike snatches the crown. It’s the highest-grossing mobile game of all time with total revenue of $8,120,000,000.

On this list, there are other popular titles that you must be already familiar with like Clash of Clans, PUBG Mobile, and Candy Crush Saga.

Will Minecraft ever die?

Until there’s a game that can top it in all aspects that made it great, it’s not going anywhere. The game in question may look like an updated version of Minecraft with all the key features.

Well, it’s still just a prediction. Another way we could see it dying is when players grow tired of it, something which has yet to come because recent data shows that Minecraft still has 126 million monthly players.

Is Roblox ok for kids?

With an ESRB rating of E10+, it should be safe for kids aged 10 and up although you can argue that people in this age bracket can’t be considered kids anymore.

What’s risky about it?

Roblox allows you to interact with people everywhere. While this doesn’t seem like a big issue, kids are highly impressionable. They shouldn’t be exposed to an influx of information from people they don’t know especially on the internet.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this article can enlighten you on what is the most popular game in the world. The truth is there are so many games from different genres released on different platforms. We can rank them by various metrics, too.

For example, you can rank games by concurrent peak player, use on mobile devices, consoles, etc. The list above is just a small subset of video games.

There have been many released since the advent of consoles in the 70s. Many have left their marks in the industry for being super successful.