The gaming zeitgeist is in full swing. At the moment, there’s no greater topic in entertainment. In fact, many of the latest innovations in tech have been targeted at expanding and improving the gaming experience for players. This includes streaming, mobile features, and even eXtended Reality hardware.
Overwhelmingly, the modern focus is on eSports games like League of Legends and CS: GO, casual mobile titles like Candy Crush Saga and Monument Valley, and franchise favorites such as Mario Bros. and Grand Theft Auto. But when it comes to gauging the popularity of the world’s top titles, things get a little murky.
Most often, publications gauge the popularity and lasting power of a title based on a few different metrics. These include the total number of units sold, the number of active players, and the amount of money made during a new release. But what about the all-time greats?
Let’s take a look at some of the world’s most popular games as broken down by the duration of their hold on the public. In other words, which games have stood the test of time with multiple releases—not just a one-hit wonder like Tetris or Pac-Man? Let’s dive in.
Poker (1820s)
Though not categorized as a traditional video game, it would be a false start not to mention the enduring reign of poker. This game was first recorded in New Orleans in 1829—but the game evolved from Germany’s pochen and France’s poque, hinting at a much longer duration. Unsurprisingly, poker was one of the first games to be played online when the internet became popular in the 1990s.
Today, the World Poker Tour (WPT) estimates that there are around 100 million virtual players worldwide. Most prefer the popular variation of Texas Hold’em, but many platforms also offer other types of poker, including Omaha and Caribbean Stud, along with tournaments and cash games.
Donkey Kong & Super Mario Bros. (1981)
The mega-popular Mario franchise began with Nintendo’s first release back in 1981. Oddly enough, this first release focused on an angry pet ape (Donkey Kong) and his attempts to get even with his handler (Mario) by abducting his girlfriend (then named Pauline). The original helped catapult interest in the Italian plumber and his antics, leading to dozens of other releases.
The Super Mario series has created some of the most-played games in history, including the Mario Kart and Mario Party spinoffs. Though this franchise is the best-selling in the history of gaming with more than 830 million units sold, it also stands the test of time having endured almost half a century at the top.
The Legend of Zelda (1986)
During the 1980s, the arcade and early handheld titles started to diversify. Leading this charge was The Legend of Zelda, which was released as an action RPG—making it one of the first of its kind. The story followed the adventure of Link, a young man who wants to save Princess Zelda and the land of Hyrule from the evil clutches of Ganon.
This simple premise has led to countless quality releases which have earned Zelda a hardcore and lasting fandom. One key element of this success is the fact that players get to know Link in a variety of contexts throughout each new release, as each personality and backstory changes slightly. It makes each game unique and stimulating—even if a player knows the Zelda world inside and out. So far, there are nineteen entries in the franchise with latest being one of the top selling titles on the Nintendo Switch.
Street Fighter (1987)
Considered the original fighting game, Street Fighter helped spawn an interest in the fighting genre, leading to releases like Tekken and Mortal Kombat. But how did it do this? First, developers created a long series of moves and actions for players to choose from. Second, they crafted unique characters that each had their own backstory and fighting style—something which took off with their second release in 1991.
Unlike Mario and Zelda, the Street Fighter franchise has become a hugely successful branch of eSports. On top of that, its 36-year run has helped the series become one of the highest-grossing video games of all time. In fact, it’s the highest-grossing fighting franchise ever released.