FIFA is the UK’s best-selling video game franchise since 1995, according to gaming experts.
The footie franchise beat rival titans like Grand Theft Auto and Super Mario.
New figures from analysts at GfK reveal how Fifa’s 50 titles since 1995 have propelled it to greatness.
Fifa is one of the most iconic games of all time.
Importantly, at least one new game is released yearly – keeping players constantly returning with cash in hand.
It’s a similar story for Call of Duty, which took second place in the line-up.
Read more on Call of Duty
Since its launch in 2003, GfK says that Call of Duty has released an impressive 32 titles.
“The coveted top two positions are taken by titles that have adopted an annual release strategy to keep fans engaged,” said GfK.
“And dipping into their pockets.”
Third on the list is Nintendo’s Mario series, which has spawned an enormous 109 titles since 1995.
According to GfK, the top money-spinners were Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 8, and New Super Mario Bros.
Fourth on the list was Grand Theft Auto, which remains enormously popular to this day – despite the most recent game launching nearly a decade ago.
In fact, GTA 5 is so successful that GfK says it’s generated “40% of the franchise’s life sales” since 1997.
And in fifth place is Lego, which (as a brand) didn’t begin as a video game franchise but is now immensely popular anyway.
Note that this list doesn’t necessarily mean there aren’t better-earning games.
There are lots of titles with enormous player bases that generate huge amounts of revenue – but don’t have “sales” in the conventional way GfK is tracking.
Popular titles like Fortnite, Roblox and League of Legends are all free games with many players that rake in cash.
Best-selling games in the UK
Here’s the official list from GfK, including the year the series start and number of titles released since 1995…
- 1) Fifa – 1993 (50 titles)
- 2) Call of Duty – 2003 (32 titles)
- 3) Mario – 1987 (109 titles)
- 4) Grand Theft Auto – 1997 (21 titles)
- 5) Lego – 1997 (77 titles)
- 6) Star Wars – 1983 (113 titles)
- 7) Sims – 2000 (106 titles)
- 8) Pokemon – 1999 (93 titles)
- 9) Assassin’s Creed – 2007 (27 titles)
- 10) Need for Speed – 1994 (30 titles)
- 11) Sonic – 1991 (55 titles)
- 12) WWE/WWF/Wrestlemania – 1987 (61 titles)
- 13) Marvel – 1982 (106 titles)
- 14) Wii Fit – 2008 (3 titles)
- 15) Tom Clancy – 1997 (72 titles)
- 16) Guitar / DJ Hero – 2006 (18 titles)
- 17) Pro Evolution Soccer – 2001 (22 titles)
- 18) Skylanders – 2011 (6 titles)
- 19) Battlefield – 2002 (30 titles)
- 20) Tomb Raider – 1996 (31 titles)
- 21) Halo – 2001 (15 titles)
- 22) DC – 1986 (43 titles)
- 23) Formula One – 1992 (66 titles)
- 24) Gran Turismo – 1998 (13 titles)
- 25) Forza – 2005 (13 titles)
- 26) Harry Potter – 2001 (17 titles)
- 27) Crash Bandicoot – 1996 (22 titles)
- 28) The Olympic Games – 1992 (20 titles)
- 29) Zelda – 1987 (35 titles)
- 30) PGA Tour Golf – 1990 (46 titles)
According to GfK, the top 30 titles have earned a staggering £13billion in the last 27 years.
GfK used “point of sale” tracking for console and PC games from a “comprehensive list of traditional retailers” in the UK.
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That included gaming stores, supermarkets, department stores and more.
Roughly 42,000 games were tracked over 27 years.
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