Borders cannot control the overwhelming love for these games!
There are some games whose fan-base is eternal. They are the games that leave such a lasting impression that they shape our future as gamers. Sometimes they are even what inspires us to become gamers to begin with.
Without games that take the industry by such a storm, our community could easily wither away. Popular games give gamers a certain connection with one another, and help build the amazing virtual universe we’re all a little addicted to.
Here is a list of the 10 Most Popular Games Loved By Millions Worldwide. When somebody mentions video games, these titles are most likely what you think of, ranging from classics to modern masterpieces to series that transcend time over years and years of installments.
1. World of Warcraft
The latest World of Warcraft trailer
World of Warcraft is an MMORPG miracle. For more than ten years, it has held the attention of millions of subscribers – a lofty 5.6 million users still play today! With that comes financial victory, making it the highest grossing game of all time.
But beyond that, WoW is something special on its own. There is never a way to become bored in its expansive fantasy world, especially as it is ever-growing with a new expansion coming out every couple years.
Despite the huge size and vast volume of subscribers, the World of Warcraft community stays tight-knit through events like dungeons and raids, which are often organized by player-run guilds. Guilds are important on every server, and every server is occupied by hundreds and thousands of worldwide players.
Throughout the years, World of Warcraft has proven that its appeal is universal. It is hard not to love WoW, but even if you don’t, chances are all of your friends are having fun playing without you.
2. League of Legends
Even the League of Legends trailers get millions of views!
The uproar of League of Legends happened quickly and never seemed to die down. Millions upon millions of players play LoL each day, and an average of 67 million play per month.
League of Legends is arguably the biggest game in eSports history, with its World Tournament happening annually and smaller regional championships occurring internationally throughout the year. The winning teams of these competitions can earn up to millions of dollars – yes, millions of dollars for playing an amazing game.
Because LoL is free to play, there is no reason not to give it a shot. As demonstrated in its incredible player count, most who try League of Legends end up loving it!
3. Dota 2
Check out this Defense of the Ancients 2 video!
Want to hear a fun fact? Without Dota, League of Legends probably would not exist. LoL found significant inspiration from the original Dota, or Defense of the Ancients, which originally was just a Warcraft III mod.
Years later, and Dota 2 is definitely one of the most loved games of all time. In fact, it is the most played Steam game of all time. Also, like LoL, Dota 2 attracts a large competitive scene and has an International Tournament each year that places millions of dollars at stake.
Because it is a team-based game, Dota 2 is a gamer’s paradise if you’re into the community. Part of the reason why MOBAs (multiplayer online battle arenas) so popular is because players are just in love with working together as they are with the game itself!
4. Minecraft
This is one of YouTube's most watched videos.
It is easy to say that Minecraft is the most successful indie game of all time. Since its 2009 release, Minecraft has become a household name that seems to translate to ‘addicting fun for the whole family.’
The concept is simple; you are placed into an open world environment where blocks can be broken or placed and have very little guiding your progress except for possible achievements to be gained. Because it is uncomplicated and gives the player freedom to do whatever they please, everybody can find something they like about Minecraft. It is literally universally fun.
Furthermore, the giant PC Minecraft community is always pumping out interesting third-party mods, so everybody’s love for the game can last forever! And that is definitely the reason for Minecraft’s popularity – its infinite gameplay possibilities.
5. Call of Duty Series
Here's the trailer for the latest Call of Duty game!
Everybody’s heard of it. Most everybody has played it, and just as many have loved it!
Since the first installment’s release in 2003, Call of Duty has been revolutionizing first-person shooters. Each game further matures the series by introducing new gameplay elements or by testing the limits of modern graphical possibilities. They keep getting more and more realistic, and, with that, more and more beautiful.
The Call of Duty franchise has received immense support with at least 175 million copies sold worldwide. Expect that number to keep increasing as the latest game, Black Ops III, is released!
6. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
CS:GO is the incredible revamp of a classic.
Fresh from the 2015 ESL One Cologne Tournament, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a consistent favorite with a fan base that is continuing to skyrocket. CS:GO is like Dota 2 or League of Legends in that its main attraction is the sheer competition of each match – professionally and casually. Moreover, millions of dollars have been won in CS:GO competitive play prize money.
The game is certainly well-loved; Counter-Strike is only second to Dota 2 in total number of Steam players! It is a revival of an old favorite, which means it attracts both classic players and new ones made interested by Valve’s recent involvement.
Despite the series’ age, CS:GO is just as fun as any modern shooter, and its gameplay is more interesting for a number of reasons. The shooting is difficult, creating a steep learning curve that leaves gamers come back for more. Plus, with the additions of weapon skins and crates to open, Counter-Strike is rewarding on an individual level instead of just being fun for teams.
7. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
Hearthstone is fun for all!
Released just last year, Hearthstone is not only an outstanding revival of beloved Warcraft characters; it is potentially the best collectible card game of all time. Why? Well, there’s plenty of reasons.
First of all, Hearthstone is free to play. That means it is accessible to anybody who has an interest, and for those who are especially invested, there are options to purchase booster packs so that your playing experience is exceptional!
Furthermore, because Hearthstone exists within the Warcraft realm, the backstory, characters, abilities, and all other lore contribute a lot to the gameplay, instead of just being “background noise.”
The gameplay stands up well on its own, too. Each card is valuable and balanced, and there is a gratifying leveling up system that can be navigated for each Warcraft class.
Those are all reasons why Hearthstone has accumulated over 30 million players in the past year alone, including those who aren’t even Warcraft fans. Nobody can get enough of this amazing card game, and it hasn’t stopped growing yet!
8. Grand Theft Auto Series
Grand Theft Auto V was a huge commercial success.
For better or for worse, Grand Theft Auto is one series probably even your mother has heard of! Violence and adult themes might have given the games their reputation, but a cast of music and film industry veterans make them stand out just as much. I can’t think of any other video game series that Axl Rose and Samuel L. Jackson have been a part of.
Grand Theft Auto is almost every gamer’s dream; there are elements of all genres in the gameplay, primarily features from third-person shooter, racing, and roleplaying games. The worlds are dynamic, clever, and, especially these days, very visually impressive.
Over 150 million copies of Grand Theft Auto games have been sold worldwide, and more importantly, it is a favorite among gamers and critics alike. Doubtlessly, both new and old GTA games will continue to be loved by millions for a very long time.
9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Doesn't the Skyrim trailer give you chills of excitement?
As the fifth installment in the beloved Elder Scrolls Bethesda game series, Skyrim was destined to be successful. After all, in its first week of release, Skyrim sold over seven million copies. However, nobody could have guessed the amount of passionate players would arise into its community over the past four years.
Skyrim fans are unlike any others; they are dedicated, having played hundreds upon hundreds of hours, and often cite it as their favorite game of all time. In fact, it is high up on most RPG fan’s lists and is considered an outstanding game by critics and gamers alike.
The reasons to love The Elder Scrolls series, and Skyrim in particular, are extensive. Skyrim implements a perk system that allows players to excel and specialize in certain skills, such as dual-wielding, magic, or the use of a bow and an arrow. They use these skills across a vast and unending open world environment, where every quest and path can be taken at their own pace.
The scope of Skyrim’s gameplay is legendary, and it seems that the scope of its fan base has become legendary too!
10. Half-Life Series
For an older game, Half-Life 2 sure holds up well.
Chances are, even if you don’t consider yourself a hardcore fan of the Half-Life series, you love it for one reason or another. Half-Life has long been the foundation of first-person shooters and its engine is used as a basis for many of the games we play today! PC games, as a whole, owe a lot to Half-Life and Half-Life 2.
The series simultaneously revolutionized video game shooting and storytelling. It created the benchmark for what makes a game great, even today.
The Half-Life fan base has been vocal for years about wanting a third installment in the series, and that fan base is a powerful one with the franchise having sold approximately 30 million copies total. So, if we lift up our voice of millions, there will be no choice but to give Half-Life 3 to us, right?
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