The 10 Best-Selling Game Consoles of All Time

Console gaming represents a massive entertainment industry that generates billions of dollars in revenue every year. While PC and mobile gaming have expanded dramatically in recent years, dedicated game consoles remain an extremely popular way to play. Modern consoles can deliver 4K visuals, HDR, and frame rates of up to 120 FPS, performance levels that can require a significant investment in a gaming PC.

The competition between console manufacturers is relatively quieter today than it was in earlier generations. As of June 2023, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S had combined sales of slightly more than 60 million units. Even together, however, that total would not be enough to place them among the ten best-selling consoles ever. The Nintendo Switch has performed exceptionally well and has reached impressive sales figures of its own, as we will see below. Consoles selling more than 100 million units is still possible, although such enormous sales totals have become less common.

The following list looks at the best-selling game consoles in history, with handheld systems making up a significant portion of the rankings. Portable gaming has always attracted players who want to enjoy their games wherever they go, which also helps provide some context for the enormous growth of mobile gaming. So settle in and take a trip through several decades of video game history.

10. Game Boy Advance

The Game Boy Advance may not have reached the legendary status of the original Game Boy Color or the Nintendo DS, but it was still a major success for Nintendo, selling approximately 81.5 million units throughout its lifespan.

Released in 2001, the handheld had only a few years to establish itself before the Nintendo DS arrived in 2004. Even with that relatively short period, it averaged around 20 million units sold annually, which represents impressive performance. The Game Boy Advance continued the handheld tradition established by the Game Boy and Game Boy Color during a period when gaming was rapidly becoming more mainstream.

The system also benefited enormously from the continuing popularity of Pokémon. Players who wanted the newest Pokémon adventures generally needed the latest Nintendo handheld, giving the Game Boy Advance a powerful advantage.

Another important feature was backward compatibility. Owners could play their existing Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles on the newer and more capable hardware, allowing them to carry their existing game libraries into the next generation.

The Game Boy Advance also faced relatively limited competition. When it arrived in 2001, other handheld gaming devices existed, but most failed to achieve comparable popularity. Nokia's N-Gage, for example, sold only around three million units. Whatever the reason, the Game Boy Advance became another successful chapter in Nintendo's history.

9. Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 is the only Microsoft console to appear on this list, with more than 84 million units sold. There is some uncertainty surrounding the final figure, however, because Microsoft's last official sales number was released in 2014 during E3, while production of the console continued until 2016.

Microsoft probably did not sell a huge number of additional Xbox 360 systems during those final two years because the Xbox One had already arrived, and consumers generally moved toward newer hardware. As a result, the final lifetime figure is likely somewhat higher than the last officially reported total.

The Xbox 360 was an extremely important system for Microsoft. It benefited from the growing popularity of online multiplayer gaming and Microsoft's Xbox Live service, which had already established a strong foundation with the original Xbox.

The console also hosted what many players regard as one of the strongest periods for the Halo franchise. Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4 all became major attractions. Those games were joined by blockbuster releases such as Grand Theft Auto V and Minecraft, giving the Xbox 360 a huge software library.

Microsoft also promoted the console as more than just a gaming machine. The system could play DVDs, users could customize its appearance with interchangeable faceplates, and accessories such as Kinect expanded its functionality. Numerous special-edition versions also gave consumers additional designs and themes to choose from.

8. PlayStation 3

Sony's PlayStation 3 competed directly with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and ended up with a similar level of lifetime sales. According to Sony, the system had sold 87.4 million units by 2017, making it the least-selling discontinued PlayStation console so far.

Despite ranking lower than other PlayStation systems, the PS3 still achieved a substantial audience. Like the Xbox 360, it benefited from major multiplatform games such as Grand Theft Auto V and the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series.

One of the biggest advantages of the PlayStation 3 was its collection of exclusive software. Games such as The Last of Us and Gran Turismo 5 helped distinguish the system from its competitors. Numerous other titles were also available only on PlayStation, continuing Sony's long-standing emphasis on exclusive games.

The PS3 offered more than software, however. Its built-in disc drive could play Blu-ray movies, giving it a capability the Xbox 360 did not have. Certain versions also included four USB ports and an SD card slot.

The console also supported backward compatibility with many games from earlier PlayStation generations. Players who wanted to transfer their saved data from older memory cards could do so with the appropriate USB adapter.

7. Nintendo Wii

Nintendo reports that the Wii sold slightly more than 101 million units during its highly successful lifespan. The system launched around the same period as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but Nintendo took a very different approach to the console market.

Rather than attempting to compete directly with Sony and Microsoft on traditional hardware specifications, Nintendo concentrated on introducing new ways to play games. The Wii Remote became the central feature of this strategy and played a major role in the console's popularity.

Wii Sports was particularly successful, selling more than 82.9 million copies and becoming one of the five best-selling games ever. Other popular titles included Wii Sports Resort, Wii Play, and Wii Fit.

The Wii became a major cultural phenomenon. Stories about players accidentally sending Wii Remotes flying into television sets became common, while Wii Fit was widely associated with exercise and fitness. Nintendo even recalled 3.2 million wrist straps as part of efforts to reduce accidents caused by controllers being thrown.

The console's appeal went beyond motion-controlled games. Nintendo's established franchises also provided a powerful reason to buy the system. New Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong releases helped drive interest, while Mario Kart Wii performed especially well with nearly 40 million copies sold.

Although production of the Wii ended in 2013, its software life continued for years. Just Dance 2020 was released for the system seven years after the console itself had been discontinued.

6. PlayStation

Sony's original PlayStation was an enormous success, selling approximately 102.4 million units worldwide. It competed against Nintendo 64, which sold about 32.9 million systems, and represented Sony's first major victory in the dedicated console market.

The disc-based system was released in several versions, including a smaller model that could be paired with an optional screen for portable use.

A major reason for the PlayStation's success was its outstanding collection of games. The system introduced the highly successful Gran Turismo franchise and hosted numerous major titles, including Final Fantasy VII, Tekken 3, Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, Metal Gear Solid, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and Resident Evil.

Final Fantasy VII remains one of Square Enix's strongest-selling games, while the PlayStation era is often remembered as an especially important period for Japanese role-playing games. The platform offered players a huge selection of JRPGs across many different styles.

The original PlayStation also offered several useful features beyond gaming. It could function as a CD player, adding another purpose to the hardware at a time when this type of versatility was less common.

Sony also introduced the PlayStation Link Cable, which allowed multiple PlayStation systems to be connected for multiplayer gaming. Other consoles had their own interesting features, but the PlayStation combined its hardware and software strengths into a remarkably successful package.

5. PlayStation 4

The PlayStation 4 is Sony's second-best-selling console, with approximately 117 million units sold worldwide. Unlike some of the other systems on this list, the PS4 did not rely on one revolutionary feature to define it. Instead, it succeeded by providing a dependable modern gaming platform with a strong library of games.

As with previous PlayStation generations, Sony placed considerable emphasis on exclusive software and overall versatility. The PS4 also included a Blu-ray player and allowed users to install streaming applications such as Netflix.

Its software lineup was one of its biggest strengths. Major releases included The Last of Us Part II, Marvel's Spider-Man, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Ghost of Tsushima.

The console also developed a strong following for games such as Persona 5 Royal and NieR: Automata. Although these titles did not necessarily reach the sales levels of the biggest blockbusters, they became highly regarded among players.

Sony also secured exclusive rights to Final Fantasy VII Remake, which helped attract fans of Japanese role-playing games.

Later in the generation, Sony introduced the PlayStation 4 Pro. Like the Xbox One X, the upgraded model retained the basic architecture of the original system while providing more powerful hardware. The increased performance allowed the PS4 platform to support 4K resolution and HDR in compatible games and helped maintain interest in the system during the later part of its lifespan.

4. Game Boy and Game Boy Color

The original Game Boy and Game Boy Color together sold approximately 118 million units, making them some of the most successful handheld gaming systems ever produced.

The first Game Boy arrived in the late 1980s and entered a handheld market where it faced little serious competition. Another major advantage was its unusually long lifespan. Production of the Game Boy family continued until 2003, while the Game Boy Advance arrived in 2001.

As a result, the original Game Boy generation remained active for roughly 13 years, about twice as long as many other handheld systems.

The hardware also became an important cultural icon. It was the platform that helped launch the worldwide Pokémon phenomenon, although Pokémon was far from the only successful franchise on the system.

Tetris was another enormous success, selling around 35 million copies. Other popular titles included Dr. Mario, Kirby's Dream Land, Super Mario Land, and the Game Boy version of the Tamagotchi phenomenon.

The Game Boy also supported a wide range of accessories. Players could connect systems with link cables, attach magnifying screens and external lights, and customize their handhelds in various ways.

For many players, the Game Boy was their first gaming system, making it a particularly memorable part of their childhood and gaming history.

3. Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch has achieved remarkable sales since its launch in 2017, reaching approximately 129.5 million units. It has already moved well beyond the lifetime sales of the Game Boy while taking roughly half as much time to reach that milestone.

Even more significantly, the Switch remained an active product when these figures were recorded, meaning its eventual lifetime total could grow considerably further. It has become Nintendo's second-best-selling console and, to date, the only Nintendo system to surpass one billion individual software sales.

A significant part of the Switch's success came from Nintendo's ability to market the system and its games effectively. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild received widespread critical praise and quickly became one of the essential games for Switch owners.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Animal Crossing: New Horizons also became a major cultural phenomenon as people spent more time at home. The continued arrival of major Pokémon, Mario, and Zelda releases further strengthened the platform.

The Switch has also moved surprisingly close to the Nintendo DS in overall hardware sales, making it one of the company's most successful systems ever.

2. Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS was one of the biggest handheld successes in gaming history, selling approximately 154 million units. Like the original Game Boy, the DS benefited from an unusually long commercial lifespan.

It launched in 2004 and remained on the market until 2014. Its long battery life, multiple hardware revisions, and numerous special editions all helped maintain its popularity over the years.

The DS also had an extensive software library. Unlike the Game Boy, it did not have one single franchise that defined the entire platform in quite the same way Pokémon defined the earlier handheld.

Nevertheless, several DS games achieved enormous success, including New Super Mario Bros., Mario Kart DS, Nintendogs, and Mario Party DS.

Beyond the biggest sellers, the system offered a remarkably broad range of games. Different types of players could find software suited to their individual interests, which helped make the DS appealing to a very wide audience.

There is also some debate over how the DS family should be counted. Its successor, the Nintendo 3DS, featured more powerful hardware and a 3D display while retaining compatibility with DS games. In practical terms, it could be viewed as a continuation of the same basic platform with additional capabilities.

The main distinction is that Nintendo 3DS games could not run on a standard DS. However, similar compatibility differences existed between the original Game Boy and the Game Boy Color.

The Nintendo 3DS itself sold nearly 76 million units. When combined with the DS's approximately 154 million sales, the two systems reach around 230 million units, making the broader DS family Nintendo's strongest-selling handheld platform family.

1. PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2 remains the best-selling game console in the world, with approximately 155 million units sold. Sony launched the system in 2000, a full year before Microsoft's original Xbox arrived.

The PlayStation 2 also entered a market in which competing systems such as the Nintendo GameCube struggled with their initial software lineups, features, and coverage of popular game genres.

Interestingly, the PS2 did not have a single game that sold more than 20 million copies. Instead, the console built its enormous audience through a large collection of successful titles.

Its software lineup included partial exclusivity for two Grand Theft Auto games, along with two highly successful Gran Turismo titles, Final Fantasy X, Tekken 5, God of War II, and several Kingdom Hearts games.

Rather than depending on one defining blockbuster, the PlayStation 2 offered a broad collection of high-quality games. Combined with well-timed hardware and the right market conditions, that extensive library helped make the system extraordinarily successful.

The PlayStation 2's greatest advantage may have been its role as a household entertainment device. It was the first major game console that could also function as a DVD player.

This meant families could use the same machine for gaming and watching movies. Parents could purchase the system for the household, children could play games, and the family could use it to watch DVDs together.

That combination of gaming and home entertainment helped establish a model that later consoles continued to follow. Today, many people use game consoles as devices for accessing television, movies, and streaming services as well as playing games, and the PlayStation 2 played a major role in starting that trend.