Best-selling games: All platforms

[Erik Aston]

And, for arguments sake:

~*~The Stingy List~*~

Counted towards same game sales:

-Games with same name and core content on different systems of the same generation.
(Example: Guitar Hero III for XBox 360, PS3, PS2 and Wii..)

-Remakes or re-releases of a game with the same core content.
(Example: Super Mario Bros. remade as Super Mario Bros. DX for GBC, or re-released as a “Famicom Mini” for GBA.)

-Games released as part of compilations on a system of the same generation.
(Example: Grand Theft Auto Double Pack for XBox counts toward both GTAIII and Vice City.)

Counted as an entirely new game:

-Each differently named SKU of games with the same core content released simultaneously for the same system.
(Example: Pokemon Red, Blue and Green.)

-Special editions.
(Example: Pokemon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition)  

-Remakes of an older game on a newer system which significantly alter or add to the core content.
(Example: Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen.)

-Compilations of games on a system of a later generation.
(Example: Super Mario All-Stars)

Discounted entirely:

-Games that are part of "forced" pack-ins; that is, included with every system available for sale.
(Example: Super Mario Bros. for NES; Wii Sports for Wii)

Note: The distinction is made in compilations because of the difference in paying for individual games at a lower price and "paying for the compilation." When current systems allow the option to buy games individually, a compilation is simply a good deal. When games are only available as part of a compilation, every sale of the compilation cannot be counted towards the total of every game in it; the compilation *is* the game, and is counted separately as such.  

Note 2: Likely every game on this list benefitted from prominent publisher and/or retailler bundles. Discounting based on that would be counter-productive.

 

1. Super Mario Bros. 3  22.48M
17.28M for NES
5.20M for GBA

2. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas  21.5M
17.02M for PS2
1.93M for XBox
Remainder for PC
*Shipped number from Take-2 http://taketwovalue.com/documents/TTWO_Value.pdf#page=12

3. The Sims  19.68M
16.08M for PC
2.68M for PS2
.49M for GC
.43M for XBox
(Also on Mac)

4. Super Mario 64  18.11M
11.89M for N64
6.22M for DS

5. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City  17.5M
14.20M for PS2
2.22M for XBox
Remainder for PC
*Shipped number from Take-2 http://taketwovalue.com/documents/TTWO_Value.pdf#page=12

6. Wii Play  16.15M
For Wii
*Shipped number from Nintendo http://gonintendo.com/?p=61322#more-61322

7. New Super Mario Bros.  15.89M
For DS
*Shipped number from Nintendo http://gonintendo.com/?p=61322#more-61322

8. Gran Turismo 3: A Spec  14.87M
For PS2

9. Pokemon Yellow  14.64M
For GB

10. Grand Theft Auto III  14.5M
11.60M for PS2
2.22M for XBox
Remainder for PC
*Shipped number from Take-2 http://taketwovalue.com/documents/TTWO_Value.pdf#page=12

11. Brain Training  14.48M
For DS
*Shipped number from Nintendo http://gonintendo.com/?p=61322#more-61322

12. Pokemon Red  ~14M
For GB

12. Pokemon Blue  ~14M
For GB

*Note for Pokemon Red/Blue: (Approx. Red/Blue/Green sold 31+M; 14 + 14 = 28M; remaining 3+ M for Japan-only Green version.)

14. Donkey Kong Country  13.33M
9.30M for SNES
2.19 for GBC
1.84 for GBA

15. The Sims 2  >13M
At least 5.21M for PC (actual sales likely make up majority of 13M total)
1.37M for DS
.68M for PSP
.66M for PS2 (Americas numbers only)
(Also on XB, GC, GBA)
*Shipped number from EA http://planetthesims.gamespy.com/View.php?view=PressReleases.Detail&game=8&id=77

16. Guitar Hero III  12.77M
4.28M for PS2
3.51M for X360
3.37M for Wii
1.61M for PS3
(Also on PC)

17. More Brain Training  12.17M
For DS

18. Mario Kart DS  12.31M
For DS

19. Pokemon Gold  11.56M
For GBC

20. Pokemon Silver  11.55M
For GBC

*Note for Pokemon Gold/Silver: (23.11M/2; actual sales were probably far more weighted towards "Gold" version.)

21. Super Mario Land 2  11.18M
For GB

22. Gran Turismo  10.85M
For PS

23. Grand Theft Auto IV  10.69M
6.07M for X360
4.62M for PS3

 

 

24. Super Mario All-Stars  10.55M
For SNES

25. Dr. Mario  10.32M
5.34M for GB
4.85M for NES
.13M for GBA (Japan only)

26. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare  10.20M
6.53M for X360
3.67M for PS3
(Also on PC)

27. Gran Turismo 4  10.18M
For PS2
*Shipped number from Polyphony http://www.polyphony.co.jp/english/list.html