Reading Passages: TOP 10 GREATEST VIDEO GAMES

 TOP 10 GREATEST VIDEO GAMES

OF ALL TIME

By Revenue & Player Count

 

Ten In-Depth Articles with Study Questions

 

TOP 10 QUICK LIST

1.     Minecraft (Sandbox/Survival) · 300M+ copies sold

2.     Grand Theft Auto V (Action-Adventure) · $8B revenue

3.     Tetris (Puzzle) · 520M+ copies sold

4.     Wii Sports (Sports/Party) · 82M copies sold

5.     PUBG: Battlegrounds (Battle Royale) · 75M+ PC copies

6.     Fortnite (Battle Royale) · 350M+ registered accounts

7.     League of Legends (MOBA) · 180M+ registered players

8.     Call of Duty: Warzone (FPS) · 100M+ Warzone players

9.     Pokémon Franchise (RPG) · 440M+ series copies sold

10.  The Sims (Life Simulation) · 200M+ copies sold

 

ARTICLE 1 OF 10

#1: Minecraft — The Creative Phenomenon

Genre: Sandbox / Survival

Developer: Mojang Studios (acquired by Microsoft, 2014)

Release Date: November 18, 2011 (official release)

Total Players / Sales: Over 170 million monthly active players (2023); 300+ million copies sold across all platforms as of 2023

Revenue: Estimated lifetime revenue exceeding $5 billion, including the game, DLC, merchandise, and spin-offs

 

▶  History & Background

Minecraft began as a solo project by Swedish developer Markus 'Notch' Persson in 2009. Built on a simple premise — place and break blocks in a procedurally generated world — it grew organically through word-of-mouth in gaming forums. Released officially in 2011, it exploded in popularity, especially among younger audiences. Microsoft acquired Mojang for $2.5 billion in 2014. Over the years it expanded to every major platform including consoles, mobile, VR, and PC. Minecraft is now taught in schools worldwide, has its own feature film, and remains one of the best-selling games of all time.

▶  Timeline & Milestones

Sold 1 million copies within a year of beta. Hit 100 million registered users by 2016. Monthly active users peaked at 170 million in 2023, making it the most-played game on the planet by active player count.

 

▶  Study Questions

1.     Who originally created Minecraft, and in what year did development begin?

2.     What company acquired Mojang Studios, and for how much?

3.     How many copies of Minecraft have been sold across all platforms?

4.     What makes Minecraft appeal to both children and adults?

5.     How has Minecraft been used as an educational tool?

 

ARTICLE 2 OF 10

#2: Grand Theft Auto V — The $8 Billion Masterpiece

Genre: Action-Adventure / Open World

Developer: Rockstar Games

Release Date: September 17, 2013

Total Players / Sales: 170 million copies sold as of 2023; GTA Online has over 60 million active players

Revenue: Over $8 billion in total revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing entertainment products in history — surpassing most Hollywood films

 

▶  History & Background

Grand Theft Auto V launched for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, then received next-gen updates for PS4/Xbox One (2014), PC (2015), and PS5/Xbox Series X (2022). Developed by Rockstar Games over five years with a production budget of approximately $265 million, it was one of the most expensive games ever made at the time. The game features three playable protagonists across a sprawling recreation of Los Angeles. GTA Online, the multiplayer component, launched alongside the base game and evolved into a live-service platform generating hundreds of millions annually through virtual currency sales.

▶  Timeline & Milestones

GTA V earned $800 million in its first 24 hours of release. It crossed $1 billion in its first three days — a world record at the time. Over a decade later, it remains in monthly top-seller charts.

 

▶  Study Questions

6.     How many platforms has GTA V been released on since 2013?

7.     What was the development budget for Grand Theft Auto V?

8.     How does GTA Online continue to generate revenue years after launch?

9.     What record did GTA V break within its first 24 hours on sale?

10.  Who are the three playable protagonists in GTA V?

 

ARTICLE 3 OF 10

#3: Tetris — The Timeless Puzzle

Genre: Puzzle

Developer: Originally created by Alexey Pajitnov; licensed through Nintendo, later The Tetris Company

Release Date: June 6, 1984 (original); Game Boy version 1989

Total Players / Sales: Over 520 million copies sold across all versions and platforms; billions of plays on mobile

Revenue: Estimated $1 billion+ in paid game sales; billions more through mobile licensing and merchandise

 

▶  History & Background

Tetris was created by Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov while working at the Academy of Sciences in Moscow. The game spread through floppy disks to PCs across Eastern Europe, then caught the attention of western publishers. A licensing dispute involving multiple companies ensued before Nintendo secured the rights and bundled it with the Game Boy in 1989 — a decision that made both enormously successful. Tetris is now available on virtually every device ever made, from graphing calculators to supercomputers. Its 2018 mobile iteration, Tetris Effect, won critical acclaim.

▶  Timeline & Milestones

The Game Boy bundle in 1989 sold over 35 million units, largely driven by Tetris. Mobile versions have been downloaded over 100 million times on iOS and Android. The brand remains active and profitable nearly 40 years after creation.

 

▶  Study Questions

11.  Who invented Tetris, and where was it originally developed?

12.  What role did Nintendo's Game Boy play in Tetris becoming a global phenomenon?

13.  Why did a legal dispute surround the early licensing of Tetris?

14.  How many total copies of Tetris have been sold across all platforms?

15.  What is Tetris Effect, and why did it receive critical acclaim?

 

ARTICLE 4 OF 10

#4: Wii Sports — Gaming for Everyone

Genre: Sports / Party

Developer: Nintendo

Release Date: November 19, 2006

Total Players / Sales: Over 82 million copies sold (bundled with Wii); tens of millions of additional players via Nintendo Switch Sports

Revenue: Estimated $3–4 billion in combined hardware/software impact; contributed massively to Wii's 100+ million units sold

 

▶  History & Background

Wii Sports was bundled with the Nintendo Wii in most markets, making it the de facto introduction to motion-controlled gaming for millions of households. Featuring five sports — tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, and boxing — it was designed to be immediately intuitive for players of all ages and skill levels. It became a cultural phenomenon in retirement communities, hospitals, and family living rooms worldwide. Nintendo revisited the concept with Wii Sports Resort (2009) and the spiritual successor Nintendo Switch Sports (2022).

▶  Timeline & Milestones

As the pack-in title for the Wii, Wii Sports sold alongside the 101 million Wii units shipped globally. It remained the best-selling individual Wii title for years. Nintendo Switch Sports sold 10 million copies in its first year.

 

▶  Study Questions

16.  Which five sports were included in the original Wii Sports?

17.  How did Wii Sports change the perception of who plays video games?

18.  Why was Wii Sports particularly popular among senior citizens?

19.  How did Wii Sports contribute to the overall success of the Nintendo Wii console?

20.  What is the connection between Wii Sports and Nintendo Switch Sports?

 

ARTICLE 5 OF 10

#5: PUBG: Battlegrounds — The Battle Royale Pioneer

Genre: Battle Royale / Tactical Shooter

Developer: PUBG Studios (Krafton)

Release Date: March 23, 2017 (Early Access); December 20, 2017 (full release)

Total Players / Sales: Over 75 million copies sold on PC; 400+ million mobile downloads; peak concurrent players of 3.25 million on Steam

Revenue: Over $2 billion in revenue across PC and mobile versions as of 2022

 

▶  History & Background

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, known as PUBG, popularized the battle royale genre. Created by Brendan 'PlayerUnknown' Greene — who had previously designed a battle royale mod for Arma 2 — PUBG dropped 100 players onto an island to scavenge and fight until one remained. It shattered concurrent player records on Steam during early access and inspired a wave of competitors including Fortnite and Apex Legends. The mobile version, developed with Tencent, became one of the most-played mobile games globally, particularly in Asia.

▶  Timeline & Milestones

PUBG hit 1 million concurrent players in January 2018, setting a Steam record. The mobile version reached 100 million downloads within its first year. PUBG Mobile generated $2.6 billion in player spending in 2021 alone.

 

▶  Study Questions

21.  Who created PUBG, and what was his background before the game?

22.  What record did PUBG break on the Steam platform?

23.  How did PUBG influence the development of other battle royale games?

24.  What role did Tencent play in the success of PUBG Mobile?

25.  What is the core gameplay loop that defines the battle royale genre?

 

ARTICLE 6 OF 10

#6: Fortnite — The Cultural Juggernaut

Genre: Battle Royale / Third-Person Shooter

Developer: Epic Games

Release Date: July 25, 2017 (Save the World); September 26, 2017 (Battle Royale — free to play)

Total Players / Sales: Over 350 million registered accounts; peak 78.3 million monthly players in August 2020

Revenue: Estimated $9–12 billion in lifetime revenue; $5.1 billion in 2020 alone

 

▶  History & Background

Fortnite was originally developed as a cooperative survival game (Save the World), but the addition of a free-to-play Battle Royale mode in 2017 transformed it into a global phenomenon. Epic Games perfected the live-service model with seasonal updates, collaborations with Marvel, Star Wars, Travis Scott, Ariana Grande, and even hosted in-game concerts attended by millions. The game's free-to-play model, supported by cosmetic microtransactions (V-Bucks), became a blueprint for the industry. In 2020, Epic filed a landmark antitrust lawsuit against Apple and Google over app store practices.

▶  Timeline & Milestones

Battle Royale launched in September 2017 and hit 10 million players in two weeks. By 2018, it had 125 million players. The Travis Scott Astronomical concert event drew 12.3 million concurrent players in April 2020.

 

▶  Study Questions

26.  What was Fortnite's original game mode before Battle Royale was introduced?

27.  How does Fortnite generate revenue without charging players to download the game?

28.  What was notable about the Travis Scott in-game concert event?

29.  What legal battle did Epic Games enter regarding Fortnite's distribution on mobile?

30.  How did Fortnite use crossover collaborations to maintain cultural relevance?

 

ARTICLE 7 OF 10

#7: League of Legends — The Esports Empire

Genre: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)

Developer: Riot Games

Release Date: October 27, 2009

Total Players / Sales: Over 180 million registered players; approximately 150 million monthly active players at peak

Revenue: Over $1.75 billion in annual revenue at peak (2020); estimated $20+ billion cumulative lifetime revenue

 

▶  History & Background

League of Legends (LoL) was developed by Riot Games and drew heavy inspiration from the Warcraft III mod 'Defense of the Ancients' (DotA). Two teams of five compete to destroy the opposing team's base (Nexus) in matches lasting 25–45 minutes. Riot adopted a free-to-play model early, monetizing through champion skins and cosmetics. Tencent acquired a majority stake in Riot Games in 2011 and full ownership in 2015. League of Legends pioneered modern esports, with the World Championship (Worlds) drawing over 73 million viewers in 2023 — rivaling traditional sports broadcasts.

▶  Timeline & Milestones

LoL surpassed 30 million players in 2012, three years after launch. By 2013 it was the most-played PC game globally by hours. The 2023 World Championship final drew a peak of 6.4 million concurrent viewers on Twitch alone.

 

▶  Study Questions

31.  What classic Warcraft III mod inspired the development of League of Legends?

32.  How does Riot Games generate revenue despite League of Legends being free to play?

33.  What is the World Championship, and how large has its viewership grown?

34.  Who owns Riot Games, and when was the acquisition completed?

35.  What does MOBA stand for, and what defines the genre?

 

ARTICLE 8 OF 10

#8: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare / Warzone — The Shooter Dynasty

Genre: First-Person Shooter (FPS)

Developer: Infinity Ward / Activision Blizzard

Release Date: Modern Warfare: October 25, 2019; Warzone: March 10, 2020 (free to play)

Total Players / Sales: Modern Warfare sold 30 million copies; Warzone reached 100 million players in its first 16 months

Revenue: The Call of Duty franchise has generated over $30 billion across its lifetime; Warzone alone generated an estimated $5.2 billion in 2020

 

▶  History & Background

The Call of Duty franchise launched in 2003 and became the dominant first-person shooter franchise of the 2000s and 2010s. The 2019 reboot of Modern Warfare, developed by Infinity Ward, was critically acclaimed for its revamped mechanics and graphics. In 2020, Activision launched Call of Duty: Warzone as a free-to-play battle royale companion, integrating it with successive annual COD titles. Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in 2023 — one of the largest acquisitions in gaming history — with Call of Duty as a key asset.

▶  Timeline & Milestones

Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012) was the first game to cross $1 billion in sales in 15 days. Warzone hit 50 million downloads in its first month. The franchise has launched a new title nearly every year since 2003.

 

▶  Study Questions

36.  How long has the Call of Duty franchise been releasing annual titles?

37.  What was significant about Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard?

38.  How did Warzone differ from the traditional Call of Duty model?

39.  How fast did Call of Duty: Black Ops II reach $1 billion in sales?

40.  What are the main multiplayer modes that define the Call of Duty experience?

 

ARTICLE 9 OF 10

#9: Pokémon (Franchise) — Gotta Catch 'Em All

Genre: Role-Playing Game (RPG) / Monster Collector

Developer: Game Freak / Nintendo / The Pokémon Company

Release Date: February 27, 1996 (Japan, Game Boy); September 28, 1998 (North America)

Total Players / Sales: Over 440 million copies sold across main series games; Pokémon GO has 80–90 million monthly active users

Revenue: The Pokémon franchise is the highest-grossing media franchise of all time, with over $150 billion in total revenue across games, merchandise, the trading card game, anime, and films

 

▶  History & Background

Pokémon was created by Satoshi Tajiri, inspired by his childhood hobby of collecting insects. The first games, Pokémon Red and Green (Blue in North America), launched for the Game Boy in 1996 and were an instant success in Japan. The franchise expanded into an anime series, a trading card game, movies, and merchandise. In 2016, Pokémon GO — developed by Niantic using augmented reality — became a global craze, with people playing in parks, streets, and landmarks worldwide. The main series continues with Nintendo Switch entries, and the trading card game remains one of the most collected items in the world.

▶  Timeline & Milestones

Pokémon Red/Blue sold 31 million units on the Game Boy. Pokémon GO earned $1.4 billion in its first 90 days — the fastest mobile game to ever reach that milestone. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022) sold 10 million copies in their first three days.

 

▶  Study Questions

41.  Who created Pokémon, and what childhood hobby inspired the concept?

42.  How did Pokémon GO use augmented reality to create a new gaming experience?

43.  Why is Pokémon considered the highest-grossing media franchise of all time?

44.  How many Pokémon species exist in the franchise as of the latest generation?

45.  What is the connection between the Pokémon video games and the trading card game?

 

ARTICLE 10 OF 10

#10: The Sims — Life in a Box

Genre: Life Simulation

Developer: Maxis / Electronic Arts (EA)

Release Date: February 4, 2000

Total Players / Sales: Over 200 million copies sold across The Sims, The Sims 2, The Sims 3, and The Sims 4; The Sims 4 has 70+ million registered players

Revenue: Estimated $5+ billion in lifetime franchise revenue; The Sims 4's move to free-to-play in 2022 accelerated growth

 

▶  History & Background

The Sims was created by Will Wright and published by Maxis/EA in 2000. The game lets players create and control simulated people (Sims), build homes, develop careers, and manage relationships — with no ultimate goal or win condition. It revolutionized game design by targeting non-traditional gamers, particularly women, who made up over 60% of the player base. The franchise spawned three numbered sequels and hundreds of expansion packs. The Sims 4, initially released in 2014, transitioned to a free-to-play base game in October 2022, dramatically expanding its audience. A new entry, Project Rene, is currently in development.

▶  Timeline & Milestones

The original Sims became the best-selling PC game of all time within a year of release. The Sims 4 had sold 20 million copies before going free-to-play; within months of the switch, registered accounts surged past 70 million.

 

▶  Study Questions

46.  Who designed The Sims, and what was the original design philosophy behind the game?

47.  What demographic did The Sims famously appeal to that other games had largely ignored?

48.  How did The Sims 4's move to free-to-play impact its player base?

49.  How has The Sims franchise made money through expansion packs and DLC?

50.  What is Project Rene, and what does it suggest about the future of The Sims franchise?