Best-selling games: Chart-toppers
Best Selling Games: The gaming industry experienced a remarkable year as 2023 came to a close. It witnessed the release of numerous highly anticipated games, including Star field, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Spider-Man 2, Diablo IV, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, and several others.
The year 2023 saw the release of many great games; however, it was also a year marred by substantial layoffs at both major and minor game development companies. Reports suggest that the total number of layoffs in the video game industry in 2023 exceeded 6,000.
In 2023, which games were the top sellers? Circana, formerly known as NPD, has recently published an updated list of the best selling games. With the year now concluded, we can determine which game sold the most copies. The ranking provided may not be entirely accurate or comprehensive.
Hogwarts Legacy emerges as the victor, breaking a long streak dominated by either Call of Duty or a Rock star Games title since 2009.
Certain companies opt not to disclose their digital sales information to Circana. With the increasing trend of purchasing games digitally rather than in physical form, this fact stands out? Moreover, a game’s sales figures or ranking alone may not accurately represent its overall commercial success. The rise in popularity of subscription services such as Game Pass is evident, and in the instance of Star field, its exclusivity to Xbox coupled with this trend could potentially affect its direct sales figures negatively.
Furthermore, Circana refrains from revealing precise sales figures and instead offers a ranking system. Moreover, it is important to note that this list exclusively encompasses video game sales within the United States.
Best selling games: Continue browsing the gallery to discover a compilation of the top-selling games of 2023. This compilation includes titles released between January 1, 2023, and December 30, 2023.
Feel free to explore the gallery further to uncover a collection of the best selling games of 2023. This assortment encompasses titles that were launched from January 1, 2023, to December 30, 2023.
20. Mine Craft: Best Selling Games
In 2023, Mine Craft, the open-ended sandbox game developed by Microsoft, secured its position as the 20th best selling games. In November, it secured the 25th position, propelling it up the charts and concluding the year on a high note. This game continues to exhibit remarkable sales.
The game was launched on November 18, 2011, and is available on a wide range of platforms.
19. Mario Kart 8*
Mario Kart 8, the kart racing game from Nintendo, continues to achieve impressive sales figures even several years after its initial release. The game’s position improved from No. 23 in November 2023 to No. 19 in December 2023, thanks to the boost in sales during the holiday season.
The game was launched on April 28, 2017, exclusively for the Switch platform.
18. Elden Ring
The game was launched Elden Ring was launched in February 2022 and continues to perform strongly, securing the 17th position in game sales for 2023. It also achieved the second spot as the best-selling game overall in 2022.
Release Date: February 25, 2022 and April 28, 2017, exclusively for the Switch platform.
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4, Xbox One.
17. Street Fighter 6
Capcom’s latest fighting game made its debut in June and achieved a commendable performance, securing a spot among the top 20 titles.
16. Final Fantasy XVI
Square Enix’s highly acclaimed role-playing game caused a sensation upon its release in June, and the introduction of the game on PS5 was merely the initial step. Furthermore, the developers are diligently working on a PC version, which is expected to further bolster the game’s sales figures.
Square Enix’s RPG caused a buzz upon its debut in June, with the PS5 release being only the initial step. The forthcoming PC version is anticipated to drive sales even higher.
The game is scheduled to be released on June 22, 2023, exclusively for the PS5 platform.
15. Dead Island 2
The highly anticipated sequel to Dead Island has at last made its debut in April of this year, garnering immense triumph. This installment takes place in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, where players are once again thrust into the relentless fight against hordes of the undead.
Planned Release Date: April 21, 2023
Compatible with: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4, Xbox One.
14. MLB the Show 23^
MLB: Show 23 from San Diego Studio has achieved impressive rankings on the charts, largely attributed to the strategic move of transitioning the game into a multiplatform release rather than keeping it exclusive to PlayStation. In addition to that, MLB Show 23 can also be found on Game Pass. It is important to mention that the digital sales for the Xbox and Switch are not accounted for.
The game is scheduled to be released on March 28, 2023, and will be available on various platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and Xbox One. However, it is important to note that the digital sales for the Xbox and Switch are not included.
13. Resident Evil 4 (2023)
Best Selling Games: The 2023 reimagining of the legendary 2005 game Resident Evil 4 received critical acclaim for its excellence and achieved significant commercial success for Capcom. Over 5 million copies have been sold globally, with the game set to launch on the latest iPhones in December.
The highly anticipated release is scheduled for March 24, 2023, and will be available on various platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and Xbox One.
12. Super Mario Bros. Wonder*
Super Mario Bros. Wonder, developed by Nintendo, was released in late October and swiftly climbed the charts, emerging as one of the top-selling games in 2023.
The game is set to be launched on October 20, 2023, exclusively for the Switch platform. Please note that digital sales are not included.
11. Star field: Best selling games
Despite being available on Game Pass, Star field has managed to secure a spot in the top 10 sales chart for 2023 in the United States. The game had been highly anticipated, with Bethesda revealing it back in 2018, before Microsoft’s acquisition of Zeni Max.
Microsoft appears unfazed by the impact on unit sales caused by the game’s launch on Game Pass and exclusion from PlayStation.
The game is set to launch on September 6, 2023, and will be accessible on Xbox Series X and PC.
10. EA Sports FC 24
EA and FIFA have separated, resulting in the renaming of the popular soccer series to FC. The first installment has performed exceptionally well for EA, reaching the top 15 for the year 2023. Given its larger fan base in Europe than in the US, this achievement is still commendable, making it the second EA soccer game to rank within the top 20.
Planned Launch Date: September 29, 2023
Compatible with: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch.
9. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The upcoming addition to the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order franchise, Survivor, follows Cal Kestis on a fresh interstellar journey. Respawn is currently in the process of developing the third game in the trilogy, much to the excitement of fans who eagerly await its release.
Planned Release Date: April 28, 2023
Available on: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC.
8. Mortal Kombat 1
Despite its name, Mortal Kombat 1 is not the first game in the series. Rather, it stands as the twelfth entry in the main series, introducing a distinct timeline that presents captivating storytelling prospects.
Scheduled for release on September 19, 2023, Mortal Kombat 1 will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch, and PC platforms.
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
Infinity Ward created Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II for Activision as a sequel to the reboot that was released in 2019.
Even though it was launched in 2022, it continues to perform exceptionally well.
6. Diablo IV: Best Selling Games
Diablo IV, developed by Blizzard, was released in June and created a significant impact by immersing players in the depths of Hell. The game achieved remarkable success, generating staggering revenue of $666 million immediately upon its launch.
The long-awaited update for the popular game, Vessel of Hatred, is set to launch in the latter half of 2024.
Scheduled for launch on June 5, 2023, this highly anticipated game will be available on a range of platforms, including Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom*
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom by Nintendo was released in May and quickly became a worldwide sensation, with over 19.5 million copies sold. Critics also held a deep affection for it. Nintendo has solidified its position as the second-best, even without revealing digital sales figures, following its release on May 12, 2023, for the Switch platform.
4. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2, developed by Insomniac Games, was released on October 20, 2023, and promptly secured the position as the fourth best-selling game of the year. It is exclusively available on the PS5 platform.
3. Madden NFL 24
In 2023, Madden NFL 24 will continue to be a prominent fixture, securing its place among EA’s top 20 sports games, alongside FIFA 23 and FC 24.
Despite the game receiving a combination of positive and negative reviews, it successfully attained impressive sales numbers upon its release on August 18, 2023, across various platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Activision’s flagship series made its annual comeback in November with the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. To the surprise of many, it failed to claim the top spot as the best-selling game of the year in its debut month, a position the franchise typically secures.
It managed to reach the second position, but it will be intriguing to observe how the game concludes the year. It is crucial to consider that Call of Duty has evolved into a platform rather than just a standalone game, incorporating the popular free-to-play titles Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Mobile.
Release Date: November 10th
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
1. Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy, despite the controversy surrounding its author, J.K. Rowling, achieved remarkable sales figures and emerged as the top-selling game of 2023 in the United States.
Initially launched in February for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, the game later expanded its availability to PS4 and Xbox One in May and finally to the Switch in November. On a global scale, Hogwarts Legacy managed to sell over 22 million copies. Unfortunately, the specific number of copies sold in the US remains undisclosed.
Scheduled for release on February 10, 2023, this highly anticipated game will be available on a wide range of platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch.