Bloody Hell, PlayStation's Top-Selling Games Are More Predictable Than My Morning Coffee (But There Are Surprises, Mate!)
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
PlayStation's 30th birthday reveals its top-selling US games, dominated by Call of Duty and Rockstar, with surprising entries like Marvel's Spider-Man and Guitar Hero 3. The data also offers a nostalgic look at PS1 and Dreamcast classics, highlighting the enduring power of big franchises and the evolution of gaming revenue.
Right, so PlayStation just hit its big three-oh in the US – can you believe it? Thirty years of digital adventures, exploding craniums, and controller-shaped indentations in sofas. In honour of this rather significant anniversary, the clever folks at data company Circana (via their senior director Mat Piscatella) have been rummaging through the digital archives, pulling out the top 20 best-selling PlayStation games ever. And fair warning: the results are wilder than a rogue spell, but also, in some ways, as predictable as a Call of Duty release schedule.
I’ve been tinkering with these numbers all morning, and bloody hell, the sheer dominance of a few key franchises is a sight to behold. We’re talking about just nine franchises making up the entire top 20 best-selling list (by units, January 1995 to July 2025). Can you guess which ones? If you said 'Call of Duty' multiple times, well, you're either a wizard or you've been paying attention to the gaming landscape for the last two decades.
**The Reign of the Usual Suspects (and a few cheeky newcomers)**
First off, let’s give a proper nod to the absolute titans. Rockstar still proves they've got the magic touch, leading the pack with *Grand Theft Auto V* at number one. *Red Dead Redemption 2* saddles up at fourth, with *GTA San Andreas* fifth and *GTA Vice City* ninth. Rockstar really knows how to spin gold, doesn’t it? Their worlds just… capture you. And for a curious gamer like me, it always begs the question: what's the secret sauce? Is it the sheer scale, the storytelling, or the delightful chaos they allow us to unleash?
But then, there’s the elephant in the room. Or rather, the entire herd of elephants wearing military fatigues. Call of Duty, mate. Good grief. Nine of the top 20 spots. Nine! We’re talking *Modern Warfare (2019)*, *Black Ops 3*, *Black Ops - Cold War*, *Modern Warfare 2 (2022)*, *Black Ops 6* (yes, the one coming out soon-ish, already making waves!), *Black Ops*, *Black Ops 2*, *WW2*, and *Black Ops 4*. It’s a veritable parade of tactical shooters. It truly makes you wonder about the enduring appeal. Is it the consistent thrill, the multiplayer loop, or just the comfort of a familiar, explosive formula? From a player perspective, it shows the power of a finely tuned annual release schedule, even if us digital wizards occasionally wish for a bit more genre diversity at the very top.
Now, for a genuine sprinkle of magic and a truly welcome surprise for this curious chap: Insomniac’s *Marvel’s Spider-Man* series. The debut 2018 game swings into sixth place, with the excellent PS5-launch-adjacent *Miles Morales* expandalone landing at number 12. Fair dinkum, that’s impressive! For a relatively new IP (in this iteration, anyway) to break into such an established list, it speaks volumes about the quality and sheer fun of those games. It’s a testament to good design, engaging stories, and making players feel like a genuine superhero. Bravo, Insomniac, you’re definitely doing something right.
Beyond these giants, you’ll also spot familiar faces like *Minecraft* (because, of course), *The Last of Us*, *God of War (2018)*, *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim* (still going strong, eh?), and *Rainbow Six Siege*. A solid list of games that have captured millions of players over the years.
**Show Me the Money! The Highest-Grossing Games**
But what happens when you re-order these lists by pure dollars made? Ah, now that’s where things get interesting, and a touch more… revealing, perhaps? This list, also from Circana, highlights not just how many copies were sold, but how much actual cash was raked in, presumably factoring in higher price points, deluxe editions, and, let’s be honest, all those lovely microtransactions and season passes. This is where my gentle skepticism about monetization schemes often pops up.
Here, Call of Duty's dominance actually *increases*, with 11 games in the top 20! Good grief, that’s almost half the list! *GTA V* still holds onto its number one spot, and *Red Dead Redemption 2* jumps up to third. Older *GTA* titles like *San Andreas* and *Vice City* drop down a bit, likely because they were less monetised in their heyday, as does the (relatively) cheaper base game of *Minecraft*.
But the real showstopper for this wizard? *Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock* appearing at a glorious 10th place! Can you believe it? Its income, I reckon, was super-charged by those expensive plastic guitar peripherals and all those downloadable song packs. It's a fantastic reminder that innovative hardware and a strong content pipeline can still make serious dough. Bloody hell, I miss that series. It’s a great example of how player-centric experiences, even with a premium, can still resonate. Plus, *Marvel’s Spider-Man 2* swings into 18th, giving Insomniac a third entry on this even more lucrative list.
**A Trip Down Memory Lane: PS1 and Dreamcast Classics**
While digging through the modern charts, Mr. Piscatella also unearthed some pure archival gold, just in time for the PlayStation 30th anniversary. We’re talking best-selling PS1 games and, rather randomly but delightfully, best-selling Dreamcast games! Why Dreamcast? Because it also launched on September 9th, four years after the PS1. What a lovely little digital serendipity!
The **PS1 list** is a proper nostalgia trip, showing the genesis of some absolute legends. *Gran Turismo 2* and *Gran Turismo* lead the charge, followed by the original *Crash Bandicoot* trilogy. We see *Spyro the Dragon*, *Tekken 3*, *Driver*, *Final Fantasy 7* and *8*, *Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2*, and *Metal Gear Solid*. It’s almost criminal that some of these foundational series aren't higher up the all-time list, but then, they were console-specific back then, weren't they? It's a powerful reminder of how these titles laid the groundwork for PlayStation's enduring legacy. And seriously, *Driver*? That series was genuinely brilliant, it’s a shame it disappeared after *Driver: San Francisco*.
And then there’s the **Dreamcast list**. Oh, what a console! A true cult classic, often overlooked but fiercely loved. Yes, there are a lot of sports games (NFL 2K, NBA 2K), but amongst them are absolute gems like *Sonic Adventure* (topping the list!), *Crazy Taxi*, *SoulCalibur* (peak arcade fighting, mate!), and, of course, the legendary *Shenmue*. It’s a testament to a console that, despite its short lifespan, left an indelible mark. *Bass Fishing* and *Resident Evil Code Veronica* also make an appearance – proving the Dreamcast had a delightful, if eclectic, taste. What a curious little console, full of experimental spirit!
**What Does It All Mean, Then?**
So, what have we learned from this dive into PlayStation’s sales history, courtesy of the excellent data from Circana, reported by Eurogamer’s Robert Purchese? Well, for one, the power of established franchises – Call of Duty, GTA, now Spider-Man – is undeniable. They consistently pull in the numbers, both in units and in cold, hard cash. This often leads to my gentle skepticism: is the industry playing it too safe, or is it just giving the players exactly what they want, year after year?
It also highlights the evolving nature of gaming revenue, from simple unit sales to the complex ecosystems of microtransactions, DLC, and peripherals that can significantly boost a game's lifetime earnings. And finally, it gives us a wonderful opportunity to reminisce about the glorious past, acknowledging the foundational titles on PS1 and the bold, often eccentric, offerings of the Dreamcast.
It’s a fascinating snapshot of gaming history, proving that while some things never change (like CoD dominating), there’s always room for a genuine surprise or a beloved classic to remind us why we fell in love with games in the first place. And that, mate, is a story worth telling. Special thanks to Robert Purchese at Eurogamer for initially covering this data provided by Circana. You can find the original article at
Tags: PlayStation, Gaming Industry, Sales Charts, CallofDuty, RetroGaming
Original article: Eurogamer