The 10 best-selling video games of all time in 2026, and where GTA 6 could rank

Key figures

How to read this ranking

Comparing game sales across 40 years is not simple. Publishers do not all count the same way: some report units shipped to stores, others copies sold to players, and free-to-play games such as Fortnite are excluded because they are not sold. We rank single games using the latest official figures from publishers, as compiled by Wikipedia's list of best-selling video games and updated with Take-Two's and Nintendo's August 2026 results. Tetris is treated separately because its record total combines hundreds of different versions released since 1984.

The top 10 best-selling video games of all time

Figures from publishers as compiled by Wikipedia (October 2026). GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2: Take-Two, quarter ended June 30, 2026. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe alone: 71.53 million on Switch by June 30, 2026, according to Nintendo; the total adds the original Wii U version. Some 2026 tallies now credit Minecraft with up to 400 million copies; the last figure confirmed by Mojang is 350 million.

The stories behind the top 5

1. Minecraft: the game that never stops selling

Released in 2011 by Swedish studio Mojang, bought by Microsoft in 2014, Minecraft is available on almost every device: PC, consoles, phones and tablets. Its secret is simple: an open world made of blocks where players build whatever they want, alone or together, and a huge role in schools and on YouTube. It became the first game to pass 300 million copies in 2023, and Mojang has since confirmed more than 350 million.

2. Grand Theft Auto V: 13 years at the top

GTA V came out in 2013 on PS3 and Xbox 360, then on PS4, Xbox One, PC and finally PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Each new generation brought a new wave of buyers, and GTA Online, its constantly updated multiplayer mode, kept players spending for more than a decade. Take-Two reported more than 230 million copies shipped in August 2026.

3. Red Dead Redemption 2: the slow-burn blockbuster

Rockstar's western, released in 2018, keeps selling year after year thanks to its reputation as one of the best story games ever made and frequent discounts. With more than 87 million units, it gives Rockstar two of the three best-selling games in history.

4. Wii Sports: the bundle effect

Wii Sports is a special case: it was included with the Wii console in most regions, which explains its 82.9 million copies. It introduced motion controls to millions of families and older players.

5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: the Switch's best friend

The enhanced Switch version of Mario Kart 8 has sold 71.53 million copies on its own, making it the best-selling Switch game, and about 80 million counting the original Wii U release. Its successor, Mario Kart World, launched with the Switch 2 in 2025 and passed 15 million copies by June 2026.

The special case of Tetris

If you add up every version released since 1984 (Game Boy, mobile, consoles, PC), Tetris has sold an estimated 520 million copies, more than any other game. Most rankings keep it apart, as Wikipedia's list notes, because those sales are spread over hundreds of different products made by many publishers, while Minecraft is a single, continuously updated game.

What record-breaking games have in common

• They are available everywhere: Minecraft, GTA V and Terraria have been released on almost every platform of their era.
• They last for years: online modes, updates and community content keep them alive long after launch.
• They appeal to everyone: Wii Sports, Mario Kart and Minecraft are easy to pick up for children and adults alike.
• They benefit from new console generations: GTA V was sold on three generations of consoles.
• Word of mouth beats marketing: Minecraft, Terraria, PUBG and Human: Fall Flat became hits through players and streamers.

Where could GTA 6 rank?

Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, 2026. Newzoo's analysts expect 37 to 51 million copies in its first week, which would already place it among the 15 best-selling games of all time within days, and Take-Two forecasts record net bookings of $8.0 to $8.2 billion for its fiscal year ending March 2027. Reaching GTA V's 230 million or Minecraft's 350 million would take many years, as it did for its predecessor. Prepare for launch day with our GTA 6 release guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best-selling video game of all time? Minecraft, with more than 350 million copies sold, if each version of Tetris is counted separately.

What is the best-selling PlayStation or Xbox game? Across all platforms, Grand Theft Auto V, with more than 230 million copies shipped.

What is the best-selling Nintendo game? Wii Sports with 82.9 million copies, largely because it was bundled with the console. Among games sold separately, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe leads with 71.53 million copies on Switch.

Is Fortnite in the ranking? No. Fortnite is free to play, so it has no sales figures comparable with paid games.

Will GTA 6 beat GTA V? It could become the fastest-selling game ever at launch, but matching GTA V's 13 years of sales will take time.

Verdict

The all-time ranking rewards games that last: Minecraft and GTA V have been sold for more than a decade on every platform, and Red Dead Redemption 2 keeps climbing eight years after its release. Nintendo's Wii Sports and Mario Kart 8 show the power of family games and console bundles, while Tetris remains the timeless exception. The next chapter starts on November 19 with GTA 6. To see this year's best sellers, read the best-selling video games of 2026 so far.

This ranking is based on official publisher figures as compiled by the sources listed below. Sales totals are updated at different dates by each publisher.