Every year, gamers line up at their favorite game retailers to grab a copy of the games that they love. And every year, it seems, those same gamers don’t waiver in their resolve to get the next installment of that series. Whether your gaming addiction is Halo or the Arkham series of Batman games, there is always something that we look forward to. That’s how companies keep us pre-ordering, and that’s how they keep us coming back for more year after year. But it’s that loyalty and devotion to a particular title or series or publisher that drives the industry. It’s what keeps the sales numbers climbing. So even though we have our favorites for the year, we decided to take a quick look back at the best-selling titles of 2013 (worldwide)–as of November 9th.
** These results and positions were compiled and set forward by VGCharts.com
Just Dance 2014
These games just keep dancing their way into the homes of gamers all over the world. And now, with the next generation of motion control upon us, it is very likely that these games may even see an increase in sales very soon. Droves of people cram themselves into their living rooms with friends every year to dance, laugh and generally make fun of their friends for their horrendous dancing. This title clocks in at just over 306,000 copies sold in its sixth week.
Batman: Arkham Origins
The third installment of the Arkham series of Batman games is one of the most anticipated releases of 2013. Not necessarily because fans were super-excited to get their hands on it, but more that they were waiting to make sure it wasn’t a steaming turd before buying it. The development switch during production left many of us scratching our heads and worrying that it wouldn’t be as good as the rest, but the numbers speak for themselves.
Rocksmith 2014 Edition
Selling best for the PS3, Rocksmith has quickly become one the greatest tools for people to learn how to play the guitar ever. Guitar teachers are cringing in their studios after reading all the reviews that talk about how easy Rocksmith makes learning to play the guitar. It has even been reviewed by prominent guitar players, and they have all talked about what an incredible learning tool it is.
Minecraft
Notch should be proud. This game has become the juggernaut that no one expected it to be. Let’s face it, in a world where games are judged first by their graphical content, it seems unfathomable that this title would do as well as it has. But truth be told, the sales numbers don’t lie–and gamers love the chance to be unfettered in their creativity. Minecraft gave them that opportunity, and they have seized it (all 1.7 million of them).
FIFA Soccer 14
Here in America, we sometimes forget the powerhouse sport that soccer is. The original football is played all over the world, by people in places that may only have one TV for an entire village–and is enjoyed just as much by the residents of mega-cities. It is the international sport celebrated by every country worldwide, so it’s not really a surprise that it would show up on the best-sellers list. It checks in with a little over 5 million copies sold worldwide.
Grand Theft Auto V
Every bit the cash cow Rockstar hoped it would be, GTA V did not disappoint in the sales brackets. With over 25 million copies sold worldwide, it is the best-selling GTA game so far. Gamers everywhere attended huge midnight release events and participated–more than ever–in online events to prepare for its release. As it continues to climb in the sales polls, we will have to check in after Christmas and see how it finishes the year on the charts.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
The most anticipated (and some say, “best ever”) installment of the Assassin’s Creed franchise hit stores this month, and has continued to meet excellent reviews by gamers and critics alike. Following the exploits of Edward Kenway–and his fits of piracy on the high seas– Assasin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is one of the most unique titles in the series, and, for that, it grabs a spot on the best-sellers list for 2013.
Pokémon X & Y
For as long as I can remember (which may be longer than I care to admit), Pokémon games have always sold well. No matter the system, the title, or even the intended audience, Pokémon games have always flown off the shelves in massive numbers. Pokémon X/Y was no exception; It sold more than 6 million copies in its first four weeks and continues to climb the sales ladder as we near Black Friday.
Battlefield 4
No one is surprised that this title has climbed to the top two on the sales charts. It has been the only game franchise to ever give Call of Duty a solid run for its money. And now, with the next-gen consoles on the market, it is poised to climb even higher in the sales brackets as we near Black Friday. EA’s monster of a shooter has gotten some serious upgrades that have put it in an ever-closer position to try and take down Activision’s bread-and-butter.
Call Of Duty: Ghosts
Let’s face it; we all knew this was coming. Activision could honestly take a crap on anything, and (as long as it had the COD label on it) it would sell by the millions. Never before has their been a gaming franchise that has absolutely destroyed its competitors like the Call of Duty series. It is the highest-grossing gaming franchise of all time, and this year only added a big number to that title–six and a half million in its first week to be exact.