Twenty-five years ago, the market for video games was fledgling and kid-centric. Today, estimates put global annual sales of video games at around $50 billion, with far higher year-over-year growth rates than its entertainment brethren — movies and music. Here’s a look at the best-selling video games in the U.S. since 1995, according to data collected by NPD Market Research. The games are ranked in separate Top 10 lists for PCs and consoles.
No. 1: ‘The Sims’
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: PC
Released: February 2000
Units Sold: 3.6 million
Genre: Simulation
What made it cool: Players control the lives of virtual people, determining such activities as sleeping, eating, reading, bathing and having fun.
No. 2: ‘World of Warcraft’
Publisher: Activision Blizzard
Platform: PC
Released: November 2004
Units Sold: 3.5 million
Genre: Fantasy
What made it cool: This massively multiplayer online role-playing game boasts more than 11.5 million monthly subscribers who guide their characters through quests, battles and —surprisingly — unionization.
No. 3: ‘RollerCoaster Tycoon’
Publisher: Atari
Platform: PC
Released: March 1999
Units Sold: 3.3 million
Genre: Strategy, Simulation
What made it cool: Manage your own theme park with this game: Build roller coasters, bumper cars, haunted houses, Ferris wheels and other attractions while trying not to make the guests too sick to spend cash.
No. 4: ‘Myst’
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform: PC
Released: February 1994
Units Sold: 2.4 million
Genre: Adventure
What made it cool: The player explores a seemingly deserted island, solving puzzles and unlocking new mini-worlds. There’s no time limit, no fights — and no dying
No. 5: ‘The Sims Deluxe’
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: PC
Released: September 2002
Units Sold: 2.3 million
Genre: Simulation
What made it cool: This update to the original “Sims” game added a few expansion packs that brought players new activities, clothes and careers.
No. 6: ‘Diablo II’
Publisher: Activision Blizzard
Platform: PC
Released: June 2000
Units Sold: 2.2 million
Genre: Action role-playing
What made it cool: You get to be the hero. Fight monsters, cross the countryside and clear dungeons in this sequel, which added online gaming to the “Diablo” franchise.
No. 7: ‘Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings’
Publisher: Microsoft
Platform: PC
Released: September 1999
Units Sold: 2.16 million
Genre: Strategy
What made it cool: In this title, gamers build cities, create armies, fight wars and build empires.
No. 8: ‘World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade’ Expansion Pack
Publisher: Activision Blizzard
Platform: PC
Released: January 2007
Units Sold: 2.13 million
Genre: Fantasy
What made it cool: The first expansion pack to the original title, this update introduced new species and social classes along with a player-versus-player mode.
No. 9: ‘The Sims II’
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: PC
Released: September 2004
Units Sold: 2 million
Genre: Simulation
What made it cool: This sequel introduced features that further humanized the Sims. Players could now give their characters ambitions, desires and fears as well as personality traits such as self-esteem.
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