Since the release of the first ever home video game console (the Magnavox Odyssey) in 1972, the gaming industry has grown rapidly and is now one of the dominant forces in the entertainment business. Hundreds of consoles have been released in that time, some more successful than others. Everyone has their favourite, and most gamers can reflect nostalgically about the first console they ever had (for me, the NES!).
There are over 40 gaming consoles that have sold more than 1 million units, but which of them have sold the best? Read on for the top 10 list of best-selling video game consoles.
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10. Game Boy Advance
Firm: Nintendo
Year of Release: 2001
Number of Units Sold Worldwide: 81.51 million
The Game Boy Advance (GBA) is a handheld 32-bit video game console and is Nintendo’s successor to the Game Boy Color. Game Boy Advance software is also compatible with its successor, the Nintendo DS. The console was discontinued in 2010.
The GBA is a sixth generation console that is powered by 2 x AA batteries and has an internal and external memory of 32 KB and 256 KB, respectively. The GBA is 10th in the top 10 list of best-selling video game consoles of all time.
The 5 best-selling games for the Game Boy Advance are:
- Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Pokémon Emerald
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2.
9. PlayStation Portable (PSP)
Firm: Sony
Year of Release: 2004
Number of Units Sold Worldwide: 82 million
The PlayStation Portable, commonly known as the PSP, is a seventh generation video game console that served as Sony’s competition to the Nintendo DS. Despite having previously released the PocketStation in Japan, the PSP was Sony’s first legitimate competitor in the handheld gaming console market.
The PSP had an 11 year-lifespan, during which 82 million units were released worldwide and 1,370 games were released. The console was discontinued in 2014 but it still has a large devoted fanbase.
The 5 best-selling games for the PlayStation Portable are:
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
- Gran Turismo
- Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
8. PlayStation 3
Firm: Sony
Year of Release: 2006
Number of Units Sold Worldwide: 83.8 million
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a seventh generation home video game console that was the first Sony PlayStation device to utilise social gaming services, overseeing the introduction of the PlayStation Network. The console had worldwide discontinuation between 2015 and 2017.
The PS3 had an initial difficulty in the market due to its high price but managed to recover after the release if the PS3 Slim model in 2009. The device offers remote connectivity with the PlayStation Portable and the PlayStation Vita.
The 5 best-selling games for the PS3 are:
- Grand Theft Auto IV
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Gran Turismo 5
- The Last of Us
- Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
7. Xbox 360
Firm: Microsoft
Year of Release: 2005
Number of Units Sold Worldwide: 84 million
The Xbox 360 is a seventh generation home video game console that was Microsoft’s competitor to the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii. The Xbox 360 has online services that allow people to use their consoles as a home media device by watching DVDs and streaming media through various applications.
The Xbox 360 was discontinued in 2016 after releasing more that 2000 games and selling over 84 million units worldwide. It is 7th
in the top 10 list of best-selling video game consoles of all time.
The 5 best-selling games for the Xbox 360 are:
- Kinect Adventures
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Halo 3
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition
6. PlayStation 4
Firm: Sony
Year of Release: 2013
Number of Units Sold Worldwide: 94.2 million
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is an eighth generation video game console that is Sony’s answer to Microsfoft’s Xbox One and Nintendo’s Switch and Wii U.
The PS4 placed a particular emphasis on social interaction within gameplay and also received praise for its pursuance of promoting indie developed games (such as Don’t Starve, Journey and Rocket League).
The 5 best-selling games for the PS4 are:
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- Marvel’s Spider-Man
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
- God of War
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
5. Wii
Firm: Nintendo
Year of Release: 2006
Number of Units Sold Worldwide: 101.63 million
The Nintendo Wii is a seventh generation home video game console that competed with the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. The Wii was initially unique amongst its competitors for its use of the pointing controller device and the detection of movement in three dimensions.
The Wii was discontinued worldwide between 2013 and 2017 after distributing over 100 million units and releasing over 1200 games.
The 5 best-selling Wii games are:
- Wii Sports
- Mario Kart Wii
- Wii Sports Resort
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii
- Wii Play
4. PlayStation
Firm: Sony
Year of Release: 1994
Number of Units Sold Worldwide: 102.49 million
The PlayStation (sometimes known as the PS1 or PSX) is the first of Sony’s PlayStation home video game consoles. It is a fifth generation console and competed with the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64.
The PS1 was discontinued in 2006 after releasing around 1300 games and selling over 102 million units. With exclusive games such as Final Fantasy VII and Gran Turismo, it’s no surprise to the PS1 on the top 10 list of best selling video game consoles of all time.
The 5 best-selling games for the PS1 are:
- Gran Tursimo
- Final Fantasy VII
- Gran Tursimo 2
- Final Fantasy VIII
- Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
3. Game Boy, Game Boy Color
Firm: Nintendo
Year of Release: 1989, 1998
Number of Units Sold Worldwide: 118.69 million
The Game Boy and its updated version, the Game Boy Color, are fourth and fifth generation handheld video game consoles. They are included together in this list due to their similarity and backward compatibility.
There were around 2000 Game Boy and Game Boy Color games released during their lifespan and they were both discontinued in 2003.
The best-selling games for the Game Boy/Game Boy Color are:
- Tetris
- Pokémon Red, Green and Blue
- Pokémon Gold and Silver
- Super Mario Land
- Pokémon Yellow
2. Nintendo DS
Firm: Nintendo
Year of Release: 2004
Number of Units Sold Worldwide: 154.02 million
The Nintendo DS is handheld video game console that operates with a dual screen. It is a seventh generation console whose main competitor was the PlayStation Portable.
During its 9 year lifespan, around 2000 Nintendo DS games were released, and over 150 million units were sold before its discontinuation in 2013.
The 5 best-selling Nintendo DS games are:
- New Super Mario Bros.
- Nintendogs
- Mario Kart DS
- Brain Age
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
1. PlayStation 2
Firm: Sony
Year of Release: 2000
Number of Units Sold Worldwide: 155 million
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a sixth generation home video game console that was Sony’s competitor to the Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo GameCube, and the Microsoft Xbox. The game offered backward compatibility with its predecessor, the PS1.
The PS2 is the best-selling video game console of all time and had sold over around 155 million units before it was discontinued in 2013. There have been more than 3800 games released for the PlayStation 2 during its 13-year lifespan.
The 5 best-selling PS2 games are:
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
- Gran Turismo 4
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Final Fantasy X
Which is your favorite video game console?
If you liked reading this top 10 list of the best selling video game consoles of all time, you might also like to check out our review of the greatest ever N64 games to be released.
Which console is your favorite? Is it on this list? Let us know in the comments section and join our Blog of Games video game blog community. If you have any questions, please get in touch below or contact me at richard@blogofgames.com.