Overview
Since 2020, only a select group of games have combined massive sales with sustained global popularity.
Live-service models, multiplayer ecosystems, and cross-platform availability have fueled long-term engagement.
These titles represent both commercial success and lasting cultural influence.
Major gaming titles did not just make it on the launch; they continued to drive attention for several years. These names have built their value through consistent updates, growing online ecosystems, and robust interactions within the community. A glimpse at best-selling video games since 2020 offers a clear insight into the success of such gaming businesses.
Since 2020, Minecraft has remained the most popular video game of all time. With over 300 million copies sold worldwide, its popularity extends beyond the metrics. Excelling through creativity, it enables players to create, explore, and tweak worlds indefinitely. Constant updates, classroom learning, and a massive creator economy have made Minecraft relevant across generations.
Whether you are playing casually, competitively, or creatively, this game’s open-ended design ensures it never feels outdated.
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Grand Theft Auto V brings the most impressive success story in the history of the gaming industry. With over 200 million copies sold long after 2020, to a large extent, its ongoing hype can be attributed to GTA Online delivering peak updates, new missions, and multiplayer content.
The game has also gained new audiences, with players returning through re-releases on more recent consoles and its vast modding community. Very few titles have maintained cultural relevance and sales momentum as smoothly, that too for this long.
Released in 2022, Modern Warfare II is one of the quickest-selling games in the Call of Duty series. Earning a record-breaking income of more than one billion dollars in a few days, it was successful over a polished gunplay, film presentation, and multiplayer functionality.
The game's association with Warzone sustained high player engagement after its launch, while frequent seasonal releases kept the competitive community active. It has been the contemporary choice for many players as a large-scale multiplayer title.
The final game produced under the brand FIFA had signaled the end of an era, given it was the last title published by EA, and it sold accordingly. The game had a tremendous adoption in different parts of the world, especially in Europe, South America, and Asia, where football has a strong following.
Its ‘Ultimate Team’ mode remained the motivation for gamers to play daily, while the online competitions and esports activities enabled the community to remain engaged throughout the year. FIFA 23’s steadiness in popularity shows how sports franchises stay at the top due to their familiarity and worldwide popularity.
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Tears of the Kingdom was released in 2023, and it was among the fastest-selling games by Nintendo. With more than 20 million sales in the initial release year, it had a unique focus on the creativity of the players, problem-solving through physics, and expansive open-world freedom.
This title has been a single player game developed in a creative, in-depth approach, well rated among both critics and players. Exploration, experimentation, and word-of-mouth accolades made it popular in the long term, even without the long-term live services.
Comparing the gaming scene since the year 2020 shows how these premium titles are not just about sales; they worked because of adaptable changes that kept regular players captivated in the long run. The highest-selling names exemplify what a successful long-term business in the contemporary gaming industry looks like.
From unrestrained imaginations and vast online environments to the full-scale competitiveness with eternal narrative, these titles have it all!
1.What makes a video game successful long-term?
Ongoing updates, strong communities, and replayable gameplay are the key factors.
2.Are older games still selling well after 2020?
Yes, games such as Minecraft and GTA V have sold millions of copies per year.
3.Do multiplayer games last longer than single-player games?
Multiplayer games have a higher duration, although a successful single-player game can also be successful in the long run.
4.Why do sports games consistently perform well?
Sports games remain relevant to fans all over the world, with online modes and annual releases.
5.Will these games remain popular in the future?
It is assumed that most of them will remain pertinent by updating them, creating sequels, or continuing the online ecosystems.