InPlayStation’svast catalog, some games have not onlydefined generationsand childhoods, but also filled Sony’s coffers with money and made many executives very, very happy.
These are acclaimed titles that have sold millions, reached a lot of players worldwide, won gaming awards, and, in some cases, even become one of the main calling cards of a console – representing a whole other level of commercial success.
And I woke up feeling quite greedy today, so I decided to compare all-time sales for every PlayStation exclusive game to compile a list of their top 10 best-selling titles in this article.
From thrilling high-speed races to action and fantasy epics (my favorite, by the way), prepare yourself to discover some of the titles that are the most important financial landmarks for the PlayStation – and I know that first place will definitely surprise you.
We are also considering games that were initially released as temporary PlayStation exclusives and those that eventually ended up being released for PC.
10Gran Turismo 5
11.95 million
Gran Turismo 5
I know that I am making my dad proud by talking aboutGran Turismo 5, since it is his favorite racing game ever – and apparently one of Sony’s favorites too, since it sold nearly 12 million copies worldwide.
It is definitely one of the best and most complete games in the franchise, offering what you want most from aracing simulator: lots of cars to play with and several game modes.
You can go for the single-player journey, try your skills in online races, create your own tracks, and even participate in special events involving renowned drivers such as Sebastian Vettel, Jeff Gordon, and Sébastien Loeb.
Whatever mode you choose, fun is pretty much guaranteed, and the sales figures clearly reflect that.
9Gran Turismo Sport
12.98 million
Gran Turismo Sport
Another title from the PlayStation’s racing franchise that was particularly successful in sales wasGran Turismo Sport, which managed to outsell Gran Turismo 5 by a margin of one million copies.
Unlike previous titles, its focus is mainly on online racing and e-sports, so you will find a lot of competitive content around here, with daily races, a ranking system and even some FIA-certified championships.
Overall, it offers a pretty compelling and realistic racing experience, which brings some freshness to the Gran Turismo series, but without completely abandoning its essence.
Sadly, Sport’s online functionality is now limited due to the existence of Gran Turismo 7, but it was considered its biggest highlight at launch – no wonder it sold almost 13 million copies.
8Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
14.89 million
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
It seems that PlayStation fans really love buying Gran Turismo games, because the classicGran Turismo 3: A-Speccomes next on the list – and it is the best-selling game in the racing franchise to date, with a nice 14.89 million copies sold.
And this time, I will be making myself proud because this is my favorite racing game ever, and I have probably put thousands of hours into this baby.
GT3 was simply revolutionary for its time, especially because it graphically squeezed as much as it could out of the PlayStation 2, delivering an experience that looked incredible and realistic.
It played great, it looked great, and it even sounded great – since its soundtrack is also fantastic –, so it became a landmark title for the console and a huge step up from the previous title. Overall, it was pretty mind-blowing at the time and is still fondly remembered by the players.
7God of War Ragnarök
15 million
God of War Ragnarok
I know you saw this one coming, since Kratos definitely was not going to be left off the list – the enraged Spartan is practically one of PlayStation’s biggest mascots to date and is known (and loved!) by thousands of gamers around the world.
And he appears in seventh place withGod of War Ragnarök, the direct sequel to 2018’s God of War, after selling around 15 million copies.
Having a much wider scope, the game basically presents an epic tale about Kratos and his son Atreus (who is more mature in this one) that encompasses the Ragnarök and has all Nine Realms to explore.
You also have the appearance of even more iconic characters fromNordic mythology, such as Týr, Angrboða, and Odin himself. I mean, if you are not one of the millions of players who bought it, you are crazy.
6Uncharted 4
18.65 million
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Fextralife Wiki
It is pretty much undeniable thatUncharted 4is the highest point in Naughty Dog’s franchise in terms of gameplay – and it seems that in terms of sales as well, because it sold more than 18 million copies around the world!
But it does not surprise me, since it is a fantastic adventure game, with absurdly detailed graphics, a narrative focus that can make any movie jealous, many adrenaline-fueled sequences, and a wonderfully sarcastic Nathan Drake.
Also, it manages to conclude the series of historical misadventures in which the protagonist gets himself into an epic experience that elevates everything that made so many players fall in love with Uncharted.
I have got to say that Rafe and Nate’s final battle with Avery and Tew’s sword (to fight each other in the same way they would have) lives rent-free in my head to this day.
5Death Stranding
20 million
Death Stranding
Managing to create a brand-new IP, where no one understood anything that was happening in the trailers, and selling around 20 million copies of it is not something that can be easily done – but apparently, it is something thatHideo Kojima can do, of course.
Jokes aside,Death Strandingwas originally released as a temporary exclusive title for the PlayStation 4 and got many players hooked (myself included) on its eccentric concepts and weird game loop of delivering boxes over and over again.
So it turned out to be one of the games that has brought the most joy (and money) to Sony executives in the last decade, even ordering a sequel, which repeated the success of the first game.
4The Last of Us
The Last of Us
I bet that PlayStation still cannot deny the view of selling around 20 million copies of the firstThe Last of Us– which includes the numbers from the original game, the PlayStation 4 remaster, and the PlayStation 5 remake.
It is Naughty Dog’s most successful game ever, and it is no surprise that it ordered a sequel (which was responsible for many of my therapy sessions, by the way) and even inspired an HBO series. Talk about success, right?
In any case, it all started with the story of Joel and Ellie on PlayStation 3, which became an instant classic and won over a legion of fans with its story-driven by the bond between these two characters.
It is one of my favorite games ever, and I am guilty of three of these 20 million copies since I basically bought every version of it. Sorry, not sorry.
3Marvel’s Spider-Man
22.68 million
Marvel’s Spider-Man
While the Avengers are the most successful on the big screen,Marvel’s Spider-Mandominates the attention of Marvel fans in the gaming universe.
This is reflected not only in the incredibly positive opinions of critics and players around the world, but also in total sales, which have reached an impressive 22.68 million to date.
And it is totally deserved if you ask me, because the game really provides an experience that makes you feel like Spidey himself, swinging on webs between buildings, preventing everyday thefts, and defeating iconic villains such as Vulture, Electro, Scorpion, and, of course, Doctor Octopus.
Also, it is a game with extremely satisfying combat, great humor, and a story that will make any comic book fan’s heart happy.
2God of War
23 million
God of War
BOY! The 2018God of Warwas not only a turning point for Kratos’ story, but also set an even higher standard of quality and sales for the franchise.
It has sold an astonishing 23 million copies around the world, and it was highly praised by critics and players, serving almost as a reintroduction to God of War’s lore.
That is because the game leaves theGreek mythologybehind to embrace the Norse mythology, as well as deepening different facets of the protagonist (who now has a son to care for) with a brand-new setting, characters, and even weapons.
So we have this multilayered experience with a very satisfying gameplay thanks to the Leviathan Axe and a little help from Atreus, whose dynamic with Kratos is pretty excellent.
1Horizon: Zero Dawn
24.3 million
Horizon: Zero Dawn
I confess thatHorizon: Zero Dawnbeing the first place on this list surprised me a little, because Aloy basically managed to draw a very strong arrow to defeat giants like Kratos, Joel, Nathan Drake, and even Spider-Man, with more than 24 million (!!!) copies sold.
But yet, it is easily one of the best open-world RPGs of the past two decades for diving into a wonderfully unique concept – you get to explore a setting that mixes high-tech elements with a prehistoric-feeling world.
It simply has everything to be a landmark for a PlayStation console: fluid and addictive gameplay, crisp mechanics, great characters, top-notch world-building, and a story full of plot twists.
