There are some games that you play just for fun or out of sheer boredom. Then there are those you swear by; ones that get you excited and screaming with joy with every new release. And for the latter, you have best-selling franchises to thank.
In the highly competitive gaming industry, some franchises have pushed themselves to the top of the charts by releasing great games with beautiful graphics, fantastic gameplay, and amazing storylines.
On that note, here is a list of the highest grossing video game franchises.
Final Fantasy
When I think of Final Fantasy, all that comes to mind is Sephiroth and his complicated relationship with Cloud. It’s amazing to see how the character design has evolved from the kewpie doll look in its earlier installments, to more realistically proportioned versions in recent ones, like Final Fantasy XV. For many gamers, Final Fantasy was their first exposure to RPGs and was what got them addicted to the genre.
First released in 1987, Final Fantasy is still going strong and is considered one of the top video game franchises of all time. Originally created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the franchise has sold well over 130 million units, as of January 2017, and grossed around $20 billion, as of August 2017.
One of the major reasons why Final Fantasy’s is so popular among gamers, is that the plot is different in every installment. Plus, the graphics and gameplay just keep getting better with every release. You look forward to the cut scenes, with the summon animations just as appealing.
The title has spawned many sequels and is also Square Enix’s best selling franchise.
Grand Theft Auto
Who would’ve thought that a game that was banned in certain countries, for glorifying violent content and the criminal lifestyle, would be a bestselling video game franchise?
Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is a bestseller franchise because it crosses limits and dares to go where other franchises don’t. Each game gives players boundless freedom. You can steal cars and kills cops. You can pick up hookers and kill them later if you want. For many Xbox, PC, and PlayStation gamers, GTA is the game that they bounce back to when they get tired of the next new thing in the market.
Developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games, GTA soared to the top with GTA 5 being the franchise’s most successful release to date. It hit the $1 billion mark within three days of its release in 2013. IGN reports that around 85 million copies of the most recent installment, GTA 5, were sold to stores this year.
The Sims
The undisputed king of its genre, The Sims franchise allows you to play God and mold the lifestyle of a population of people in any way you want.
Developed by The Sims Studio and Maxis, and published by Electronic Arts, the games in this series make it one of the most successful videogame franchises ever, earning it a place as an inductee in the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2016.
While many games focus on themes related to adventure or fantasy, The Sims focuses on everyday life. Contrary to the first city-planning installment, SimCity, which debuted in 1989, the 2000 version hit much closer to home (pun intended). In fact, that is what made it sell so fast. Characters could do everything from getting married to starting a family.
Many gamers have also taken advantage of the dynamic gameplay to make their characters go through some pretty appalling experiences. Essentially, the freedom that it provides to gamers undoubtedly makes up a large part of its success. Since 2000, The Sims has sold around 175 million copies, in addition to a number of expansion packs and compilations.
The videogame franchises on this list have passed the test of time. Many gamers grew up with them and remain loyal by playing each new release and installment to this day.
Which other franchises do you think deserve a place on this list? Share your thoughts.
