In this piece, we’ll delve into the 25 most captivating video games that have taken the world by storm. If you’re eager to skip the in-depth analysis of the gaming industry, feel free to jump straight to the 5 Most Captivating Video Games in the World.
Addictions are often perceived as harmful, draining both time and resources. This was the common perception of video games for a long time, but the narrative has shifted. Video games have evolved into a lucrative venture for both developers and players. For instance, in the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, Dota 2, players earn hundreds to millions of dollars through streaming platforms and e-sports tournaments.
The gameโs ongoing tournament, Riyadh Masters (ending June 30) boasts a prize pool of $15 million, while the annual biggest tournament of Dota 2, known as โThe International,โ amassed a prize pool of over $40 million in 2021. Moreover, Riyadh Mastersโ organizer, Gamers8, has announced their next 2024 event, The Land of Heroes, which is expected to have a prize pool of $45 million, setting a new record in e-sports history.
The first-ever video game, Tennis for Two, was introduced in 1958 by Physicist William Higinbotham. This game, played through an oscilloscope, was a revolutionary concept at the time and was well-received at the Brookhaven National Laboratory open house.
However, the first commercial game was launched in 1971, selling around 1000 – 1500 units. Today, video games are the most profitable sector in the entertainment industry, with its market size projected to reach $245.10 billion in 2024, according to our previous report.
Furthermore, the industry is expected to hit $376.08 billion by 2028, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.94% between 2024 and 2028. PC gamers lead the pack in terms of global user numbers. In 2022, there were 1.1 billion active PC gamers compared to 611 million console users.
The Titans of the Industry The video gaming industry is teeming with companies, but a few names stand out. The industry leaders include Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY), and Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI). Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) are technology conglomerates but hold significant market shares in the video gaming industry, particularly with their consoles Play Station and Xbox, respectively.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) dominates 60% to 70% of the cloud gaming market, raising concerns about monopolization. The company announced the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) in February 2022 for $69 billion or $95 per share. However, the deal was blocked by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the United Kingdomโs anti-trust authority.
The FTC filed a Motion to withdraw the case on July 18, after losing the battle twice in front of the in-house judge. Both companies are still waiting on passing the hurdle created by UK’s antitrust authority which has now paused the suit and is working on a settlement with the companies.
The termination date for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) deal was supposed to be July 18, 2024, but the companies have extended the termination date which was mentioned in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)โs fourth quarter 2024 earnings call on July 25. The company also announced its plans related to its gaming sector on the same day. The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Satya Nadella, said:
โLast week, we extended our Activision Blizzard merger agreement deadline to October. We continue to work through the regulatory approval process and remain confident about getting the deal done. We are committed to bringing more games to more players everywhere. Great content is key to our approach, and our pipeline has never been stronger.
We announced our most ambitious lineup of games ever at our showcase last month, including 21 titles that will be available via Xbox Game Pass. And we’re looking forward to the release of Starfield this fall, Bethesda’s first new universe in 25 years.โ
Benchmark analyst Mike Hickey believes that the success of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) deal could potentially open doors for further acquisitions of companies like Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ:TTWO), Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA), Roblox (NYSE:RBLX), and Ubisoft (OTC:UBSFY). The analyst said:
โWe believe that MSFTโs successful acquisition of ATVI could provide a catalyst for further industry consolidation in the video game industry.”
He further added that the potential buyers may include Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), Tencent (OTC:TCEHY), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX), and Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY).
Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) also have a significant hold in the video gaming industry. Both of the companies own highly successful and addictive video game franchises.
Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) is the developer of Need for Speed, The Sims, and Battlefield series. Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) owns one of the highest-grossing video game franchises of all time, the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
It is important to note that Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) is currently registering a loss with a trailing twelve-month loss per share of $7.07, but the company is expected to change that soon.
The company has announced the launch of the sixth latest installment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise which is expected to release between April 2024 and March 2025. Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to be a game-changer for Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), considering the success of its last installment, GTA V, which sold over 180 million copies to date.
It was launched in 2013 and the GTA fans have been eagerly waiting for its next installment which could open up a huge revenue stream for the company.
Apart from the companies we have already mentioned, NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) are also some of the best video games listed on the stock market.
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled this list with the help of nine sources, including Ranker, IGN, and Games Radar, along with others. We calculated the number of times each video game is listed in these sources and calculated the aggregate position of each of these video games according to their position in each of the sources.
25 Most Addictive Video Games in the World
25. Final Fantasy XIV and VII: Remake
Final Fantasy is a Japanese media franchise. The game is a sci-fi role-playing game available on almost every gaming platform.
The entire series has been favored by gamers, except for a few installments like Final Fantasy XIII and IV: The After Years. Nevertheless, Final Fantasy XIV and VII: Remake have been treasured by gamers around the world due to their compelling storylines.
24. StarCraft
StarCraft is a military sci-fi strategy game. The first installment of the game takes place in the year 2499. It has been developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI). The StarCraft franchise crossed the $1 billion sales mark in 2017.
23. Street Fighter Series
Street Fighter is a Japanese media franchise published by Capcom. The video game series has sold over 50 million units and is one of the highest-grossing fighting game media franchises. In 2021, Street Fighter NFTs also became highly popular and amassed $3 million in 24 hours. It is our 23rd most addictive video game in the world.
22. Mario Cart
Mario Cart is a franchise of go-cart racing that includes characters from Nintendo games. It is one of the most addictive video games in the world and might also be one of the highest rage-prone games as well.
The game involves characters racing each other, collecting power-ups, and creating hurdles in front of their opponents to win the race.
Mario Cartโs first installment launched in 1992 and has sold over 8.76 million copies to date. The franchise in total has sold more than 170 million copies with Mario Cart 8 taking the lead, selling over 60 million copies sold to date.
Mario Cart 8โs first version was released in 2014 for WiiU which sold approximately 8.5 million units, and Mario Cart 8 Deluxe was launched in 2017 for Nintendo Switch, selling approximately 52 million units.
21. Counter-Strike Series
Counter-Strike is a multiplayer first-person shooter game series currently being published by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). Its last series, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, better known as CS:GO was released in 2012 and is still being played by over a million players every month.
The gameโs tournaments also garner a lot of viewers on online streaming platforms such as Twitch.
20. Dota 2
Dota is a sequel to the Defense of the Ancients mod released on Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI)โs game, Warcraft III in 2003. The game mod quickly gained popularity among multiplayer gamers. In 2009, its lead creator (pseudonym: IceFrog) was hired by Valve to design a modern version of the game.
19. PUBG: Battlegrounds
PUBG: Battlegrounds, formerly known as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, was released in 2017 and quickly took the world by storm. It can be played through either first-person or third-person perspective.
PUBG: Battlegrounds is a battle royale game that is played between hundreds of players where they have a fight off till the last man is left standing. It was initially released by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) for Xbox but is now also available for IOS, Android, Windows, and PlayStation platforms.
The gameโs mobile platform publisher is Tencent Games. It was also available on Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)โs Stadia, which went permanently offline in January 2024.
18. Tetris
Tetris is a world-renowned puzzle game created in 1984. It is available on almost every gaming platform and has sold over 520 million units. However, it is estimated that over a billion people have played the game, making it one of the most addictive video games in the world.
17. Diablo Series
Diablo franchise is a role-playing game revolving around a dungeon crawler scenario. The characters in the games include humans, angels, and demons along with other figures existing in the celestial realm.
Its first installment was released in 1997 and its fourth and latest installment was released on June 5, 2024, and has received universal acclaim for its Xbox version by Metacritic.
Some critics are calling it the most important game by Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) since its release of World of Warcraft.
16. Pac-Man
The Pac-Man franchise is one of the most popular game franchises among people of all ages. Its first installment was released in May 1980 on an arcade/coin-op system. The game still has regular releases after 42 years and is one of the highest-grossing games of all time.
15. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher series is based on The Witcher book series written by Andrzej Sapkowski. Even though the whole franchise is loved by gamers across the world, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt takes over all other games of the franchise when it comes to being addictive.
It is also considered to be one of the greatest action role-playing games of all time by several media platforms. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)โs show, The Witcher is also partly based on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
14. Need for Speed Series
The Need for Speed franchise is another name on our list of the most addictive video games in the world created by Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA).
In the beginning, the game series revolved around cars racing on different courses. Over the years, newly developed games are about illegal street racing. Its twenty-fifth installment was released in December 2022 by the name of Need for Speed Unbound.
13. Super Mario Bros
Super Mario Bros is one of the most popular Nintendo releases of all time. It was released in 1985, succeeding Mario Bros.
The game follows the adventure of Mario and Luigi to save Princess Peach Toadstool from Bowser and his minions. Super Mario Bros. animated movie was released in 2024.
As of June 30, the movie has smashed several box office records netting close to $1.35 billion worldwide on a $100 million budget.
12. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda was first released in 1986 by Nintendo and is one of its most successful franchises. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is an action-adventure game that was originally released in 1998 for Nintendo 64.
Due to its commercial success, the gameโs remastered version was released in 2011 for Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. The original version sold more than 7 million copies globally and was the most-played game of its time.
11. Mortal Kombat Series
The first edition was created by Midway Games in 1992 which was later acquired by Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD)โs subsidiary, Warner Bros. Entertainment, and was renamed NetherRealm Studios.
The Mortal Combat franchise has inspired games, TV series, films, and card games along with other multimedia sources. With 80 million units sold, the Mortal Combat series is one of the best-selling fighting game franchises of all time and 11th on our list of most addictive video games in the world.
10. Assassin’s Creed II
Assassinโs Creed was first released in 2007 by Ubisoft Entertainment SA (OTC:UBSFY). It is a franchise of action/adventure open-world games. I
ts first installment revolved around the life of a fictional member of the Nizari Ismaili Order of Assassins. Assassinโs Creed II received a score of 91 for the PlayStation 3 version of the game, making it the highest-rated Assassinโs Creed game according to Metacritic.
Assassinโs Creed II is also popular among gamers as it has one of the most interesting storylines in the whole franchise, following the story of a fictional member of a wealthy Florentine family.
The game also introduces some famous historical characters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Lorenzo de Medici, and Niccolรฒ Machiavelli along with a few others.
9. Fallout 3 and 4
The Fall Out series takes players on a post-apocalyptic adventure and since 2004, it is being published by one of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)โs subsidiaries, Bethesda Softworks LLC.
The Fall Out franchise has been quite popular among gamers. However, only the third and fourth title of the game has made it to our list of most addictive video games of all time.
8. The Sims Series
The first game of The Sims series was launched in February 2000. It is a sandbox life simulation game published by Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA). Its creator, Will Wright considers the game a satire of the US consumer culture.
By 2019, its latest title, The Sims 4โs earnings surpassed $1 billion and is estimated to provide close to $500 million in annual profits for Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA).
7. Call of Duty Series
The Call of Duty Series is one of the most online and offline played games published by Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI). Its first installment was released in 2003.
Call of Duty is a series of first-person shooter games based on World War II, modern warfare, and the black ops along with some standalone versions such as Call of Duty: Ghosts.
The Call of Duty franchise has sold over 425 million copies and Call of Duty: Black Ops has been its top-selling game.
6. Grand Theft Auto Series
Grand Theft Auto is the prized jewel of Rockstar Games, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO).
The game series has sold over 370 million units and out of those, 175 million units are accounted by Grand Theft Auto V. Grand Theft Auto V is the 8th best PC game of all time according to our research.
5. Minecraft
Minecraft is a sandbox video game that allows players to build and explore their own virtual worlds. Developed by Mojang Studios and later acquired by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), the game has sold over 238 million copies, making it one of the best-selling video games of all time.
Its unique gameplay and endless possibilities for creativity have made it a favorite among gamers of all ages.
4. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios. The game’s open-world environment and intricate storyline have captivated gamers since its release in 2011.
Players can explore the game’s vast world, complete quests, and interact with non-playable characters, making it one of the most addictive video games in the world.
3. Fortnite
Fortnite is a free-to-play battle royale game developed and published by Epic Games. Since its release in 2017, the game has gained a massive following, with millions of players worldwide.
The game’s unique blend of survival, exploration, and combat mechanics, coupled with its vibrant graphics and regular updates, have made it a hit among gamers.
2. World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) released by Blizzard Entertainment in 2004. It is the fourth released game set in the Warcraft fantasy universe.
With its immersive gameplay, complex character development, and expansive world, World of Warcraft has captivated millions of players worldwide, making it one of the most addictive video games in the world.
1. League of Legends
Topping our list is League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed and published by Riot Games.
Since its release in 2009, the game has amassed a massive player base, with millions of active players each month. Its competitive gameplay, diverse roster of characters, and regular updates have made it a favorite among gamers, earning it the title of the most addictive video game in the world.
Final Words
In conclusion, the world of video gaming is vast and ever-evolving, with new titles and franchises constantly emerging.
The games listed above have proven their staying power, captivating players around the globe with their engaging gameplay, immersive storylines, and innovative mechanics.
As the industry continues to grow and evolve, we can expect to see even more addictive games capturing the hearts and minds of players.
Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to the world of video games, these titles offer a diverse range of experiences that are sure to keep you hooked for hours on end. Happy gaming!
