Chart-toppers
2023 has come to a close, and what a year it was for games. The year was marked with the release of a number of high-profile games like Starfield, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Spider-Man 2, Diablo IV, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, and lots more. 2 2023 was a fantastic year for big games, but it was also a year marked with significant layoffs at developers big and small. Some estimates put the total number of video game industry layoffs in 2023 beyond 6,000. Which games sold the best in 2023? The research company Circana, formerly known as NPD, publishes an updated list of the best-selling games, and now that the year has come to a close, we know which game sold more than all the rest. The ranking is not perfect or necessarily complete. And the winner is... Hogwarts Legacy. It ends a lengthy streak that saw either Call of Duty or a Rockstar Games title taking the crown every year since 2009. Hogwarts Legacy launched in February 2023, so it had a huge advantage in terms of time on the market compared to Modern Warfare III, which launched in November. Hogwarts Legacy is also available on the hugely popular Switch console, and Modern Warfare III is not. Some companies do not share digital sales data with Circana. Given the rising popularity of buying a game digitally versus picking up a physical copy, this is notable. Additionally, a game's unit-sales number alone or ranking does not necessarily reflect its total commercial performance. Subscription services like Game Pass are now popular, and in the case of Starfield, this, along with the game's exclusivity to Xbox, might negatively impact straight sales numbers. Additionally, Circana does not disclose specific sales numbers, only providing a ranking. And again, this list covers US video game sales only. Read on through the gallery to see a rundown of 2023's best-selling games. This list covers the period between January 1, 2023 and December 30, 2023. Games marked with * denotes that no digital sales are included. Those marked with ^ signify that Xbox and Switch digital sales are not included.
20. Minecraft
Microsoft's open-ended sandbox game Minecraft finished 2023 as the No. 20 best-selling game. It was No. 25 in November, so it moved up the charts to close out the year. This is the game that just keeps on selling. Release Date: November 18, 2011 Platforms: every platform you can imagine
19. Mario Kart 8*
Nintendo's juggernaut kart racing game, Mario Kart 8, is still selling exceptionally well--many years after release. Sales during the holiday season no doubt helped the game rise from the No. 23 position in November 2023 to 19 for December 2023. Release Date: April 28, 2017 Platforms: Switch
18. Elden Ring
Elden Ring released all the way back in February 2022, and it's still doing well, landing at the No. 17 spot for 2023 game sales thus far. It was the No. 2 overall best-seller in 2022. Release Date: February 25, 2022 Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4, Xbox One
17. Street Fighter 6
Capcom's big new fighting game launched in June and performed well enough to crack into the top 20. Release Date: June 2, 2023 Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4, Xbox One
16. Final Fantasy XVI
Square Enix's role-playing game made waves when it launched in June, and the launch on PS5 was just the beginning. A PC edition is also in the works and should help sales numbers climb even higher. Release Date: June 22, 2023 Platforms: PS5
15. Dead Island 2
The long-awaited Dead Island sequel finally arrived in April this year, and it was a big success. The game is set in Los Angeles and once again has players battling against the undead. Release Date: April 21, 2023 Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4, Xbox One
14. MLB The Show 23^
San Diego Studio's MLB The Show 23 ranks high on the charts thanks in part to the semi-recent decision to make the game a multiplatform release instead of being exclusive to PlayStation. Not only that, but MLB The Show 23 is on Game Pass. Note that Xbox and Switch digital sales are not included. Release Date: March 28, 2023 Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch ^ Xbox and Switch digital sales not included
13. Resident Evil 4 (2023)
A remake of the iconic 2005 game, the 2023 Resident Evil 4 remake was celebrated for its quality and it was also a huge commercial success for Capcom. Worldwide, it's sold more than 5 million copies. The game is coming to the newest iPhones in December. Release Date: March 24, 2023 Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One
12. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Nintendo's Super Mario Bos. Wonder debuted at the end of October and quickly jumped up the charts to become one of the best-selling games of 2023. Release Date: October 20, 2023 Platforms: Switch
11. Starfield
Despite launching on Game Pass, Starfield has managed to crack into the top 10 sales chart for 2023 in the US. The game had been a long time coming, as Bethesda first announced it in 2018, prior to Microsoft buying ZeniMax. Launching on Game Pass and not coming to PlayStation no doubt hurt unit sales, but Microsoft doesn't sound concerned about that. Release Date: September 6, 2023 Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC
10. EA Sports FC 24
EA and FIFA broke up and the popular soccer series is now called FC. The first entry did big business for EA, rising inside the top 15 for 2023 so far. The franchise is more popular in Europe than in the US, so this is still a good result (and it's the second of EA's soccer games inside the top 20). Release Date: September 29, 2023 Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
9. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
A sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Survivor picks up the story of Cal Kestis on another intergalactic journey. A third game to round out the trilogy is now expected from developer Respawn. Release Date: April 28, 2023 Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC
8. Mortal Kombat 1
Despite its name, Mortal Kombat 1 is not the first entry in the series. It's the 12th entry in the main series, and it takes place in a different timeline, which opened up unique storytelling opportunities. Release Date: September 19, 2023 Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch, PC
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is a sequel to the 2019 reboot, and was once again developed by Infinity Ward. Despite releasing in 2022, it's still doing very well. Release Date: October 28, 2022 Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, PS4, Xbox One
6. Diablo IV
Blizzard's Diablo IV launched in June and made a big splash, taking players to Hell to great success with $666 million in revenue right out of the gate. The game's first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, is coming in late 2024. Release Date: June 5, 2023 Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, PS4, Xbox One
5. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom*
Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launched in May and became an instant phenomenon. Globally, it's sold more than 19.5 million copies. It was also beloved by critics. Nintendo does not share digital sales numbers, which makes its ranking as No. 2 even more impressive. Release Date: May 12, 2023 Platforms: Switch *Digital sales not included
4. Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 from Insomniac Games launched at the end of October and quickly became the No. 4 best-selling game of 2023. Release Date: October 20, 2023 Platforms: PS5
3. Madden NFL 24
EA's third sports game in the top 20 after FIFA 23 and FC 24, Madden NFL 24 is a mainstay and 2023 is no different. The game might have seen mixed reviews, but its sales were strong. Release Date: August 18, 2023 Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC
2. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Activision's annual juggernaut series returned in November with the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. In a somewhat surprising move, it did not become the No. 1 best-selling game of the year after its first month as the franchise normally does. It did catapult to No. 2, however, and it'll be interesting to see how the game finishes the year. It's also important to bear in mind that Call of Duty is now more of a platform than a singular game, as it also encompasses the free-to-play giant Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Mobile. Release Date: November 10 Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4, Xbox One
1. Hogwarts Legacy
Despite controversy over author J.K. Rowling, Hogwarts Legacy put up gigantic sales numbers and finished 2023 as the best-selling game of the year in the US. The game originally launched in February for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, before expanding to PS4 and Xbox One in May, and then Switch in November. Worldwide, Hogwarts Legacy sold more than 22 million copies. We don't know how many were sold in the US specifically, however. Release Date: February 10, 2023 Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
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