Top 10: Best-Selling Video Games of the Decade (00s)

Those of us who grew up in the 80s look back fondly at the likes of Atari and Sega, but before they dominated our lives, there was Pong. By the late 80s and early 90s, the Personal Computer and PC gaming dominated the market. Then as online gaming took off, the men at the helm of the ever expanding console market began to experiment with online functionality and it wasn’t too long before the industry exploded.

The demographic for video games is forever evolving and now includes small children and women. Yes guys, you have to wait for your girl to finish before you can go shoot aliens. Just in case you’ve been camped out under a rock and missed the emergence of this wondrous of sub-cultures, we bring you the Top Ten- Best Selling Video Games of this Decade.

#10. Resident Evil 4 (2005)

One of the most anticipated titles of 2005, Resident Evil 4 crossed over from PC to console and back again. The story line was intense, the puzzles captivating and the zombies still a little frightening. Sales for this PC/Console game were great, but they really didn’t extend beyond 2005.

#9. Sims (2000)

Another cross platform game that experienced a sensational boom was SIMS. A virtual reality conceptual game that had you coming home from work so you could send your avatar (virtual self) to work. The supplemental release of SIMS Online and the fact that it was one of the first successful online/console/pc cross-over earns it a place on this list.

#8. Diablo II (2000)

One of the very first online multiplayer RPG games to come in a box. The service was free and the game play was streamlined. This game was highly addictive and put Blizzard on the map as far as online gaming goes.

#7. Wii Play (2006)

With nearly 24 million copies sold to date, Wii play- indeed a lot of Wii titles cannot be denied. In response to children sitting in front of the TV for hours and not exercising Nintendo made our chunky children get up and do some. We adults weren’t too shy about joining in too.

#6. New Super Mario Brothers (2006)

Perhaps selling a few less in Nintendo numbers at 22 million sold, New Super Mario Brothers was a delight to play and a darling among the older generation gamers who pined for a bygone era of 2D mushroom chomping, brick smashing fun. Not many games can ever attain the level of satisfaction gained from stomping on the head of a gumba.

#5. Nintendogs (2006)

Nintendogs has sold 20 million to date for the DS handheld system. Handhelds have to be represented and this odd little game is about as representative as they come. You raise and train your own virtual dog in this game, and unlike console games you can walk them too! The good news is, while you’re walking your virtual pooch, you don’t have to clean up after them.

#4. Wii Fit (2006)

Continuing the 2006 Nintendo onslaught with 22 million sold is Wii Fit. Again, the kind folks at Nintendo want us all to get up and feel like idiots in our own living rooms. Apparently peer pressure works, because 22 million people at least bought the game.

#3. Wii Sports (2006)

50 million sold! Some video game franchises don’t see those kinds of numbers. In fact very few do. Perhaps through bundling and hiding the cost, Nintendo cheated a little bit, but being the king has its perks. No one can argue Nintendo’s Console supremacy.

#2. Mario Kart Wii (2007)

Mario kart is still selling at a respectable rate, 2 years after its release. Again, the plumber knows something about the human heart- or at least how to keep selling himself in new and interesting ways. Mario will most likely always round out any top 10 video game list.

#1. World Of Warcraft (2009)

This might stir some controversy as the boxed version and supplemental packs have only sold in the region of 20 million or so. However, consider this: there are 11 million subscribers playing at a cost of roughly $15 (or €10) per month. The mind boggles at those figures as the cash rolls in at Blizzard.

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