The video game industry is hugely profitable, which attracts many companies hoping to create popular gaming consoles. Owning the console players prefer means significant revenue from game sales. However, very few manufacturers have managed to stand out and become leading, trusted brands. Fortunately, game consoles remain incredibly popular, and among the best-selling of all time, two of the top five are still being made. The console currently ranked third is expected to reach a major sales milestone soon.
Here are the 25 best-selling consoles, ranked from least to most sales.
25) Nintendo Switch 2 – 10.36 Million+
As a Nintendo fan, I was so excited when the Switch 2 finally came out in June 2025! It’s already proving to be way better than a lot of other consoles after just a few months, and I think it’s going to keep selling really well, especially during the holidays. And honestly, if you weren’t already planning on getting one, the release of Metroid Prime 4 in December is a perfect reason to jump in – it looks amazing!
24) PlayStation Vita – 10-15 Million (estimate)
Okay, so the PSP… it wasn’t quite the hit Sony hoped for, honestly. It still sold a decent amount, and there were some amazing games on it, but Sony didn’t really keep the new games coming like they should have. But if you were like me and needed to play RPGs like Persona 4 and Suikoden 2 while traveling, the PSP was the only way to go. Seriously, those games were incredible on it.
23) Wii U – 13.56 Million
The Wii U didn’t succeed like the Wii before it. Although it’s Nintendo’s least successful console – selling around seven million fewer units than its predecessors – it actually outperformed many consoles released by Sega and Atari.
22) Nintendo GameCube – 21.74 Million
The GameCube wasn’t a huge success for Nintendo. While it wasn’t a failure, it didn’t win the console war against its main competitor – we’ll discuss that console later. Despite this, the GameCube had some fantastic games, including titles like Resident Evil 4, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and Metroid Prime. Super Smash Bros. Melee was a particularly popular and defining game for the system.
21) Xbox – 24 Million
The original Xbox came out around the same time as the Nintendo GameCube, and it’s impressive that Microsoft’s first console actually sold more units than Nintendo’s. Even if you added up the sales of both the Xbox and GameCube, they still wouldn’t come close to the best-selling console on this list. Despite all that, the original Xbox gave us the popular game Halo, which means it will always be fondly remembered by fans.
20) Xbox Series X|S – 28.3 Million
The Xbox hasn’t sold as well as Microsoft expected, though it’s still a good console. It was even more appealing when Xbox Game Pass was more affordable. Overall, it remains a decent option for most gamers.
19) Atari 2600 – 30 Million
The Atari 2600 is the oldest system here, and it’s the one that really started the home video game trend. Even though it’s basic compared to today’s consoles, games like Pong, Asteroids, and Adventure were incredibly impressive at the time. However, Atari couldn’t maintain that success with its follow-up console, the 5200.
18) Genesis – 30.75 Million
The Sega Genesis, Sega’s competitor to the Super Nintendo, first introduced the iconic character Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic quickly became Sega’s mascot, providing a strong rival to Nintendo’s Mario. While Sega couldn’t consistently replicate this initial success, the company successfully transitioned into a third-party game developer and publisher, and continues to do well today.
17) Nintendo 64 – 32.93 Million
The Nintendo 64 marked a turning point for Nintendo, as it was their first console to really experiment with new ideas. While the NES and SNES were groundbreaking, the N64’s controller was famously unusual when it launched in 1996. Despite some technical drawbacks, the N64 still delivered classic games like Super Mario 64, GoldenEye 007, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that are still beloved today.
16) Super Nintendo – 49.1 Million
It was a tough act to follow the NES, but Nintendo really succeeded with its next console. It’s packed with all-time classic games like Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Final Fantasy 6, offering something for every type of gamer.
15) Xbox One – 58 Million
The Xbox One initially seemed like a setback for Microsoft. Following the huge success of the Xbox 360, the company alienated some fans with its initial plans for constant online connectivity. Microsoft later reversed many of these plans, and despite a rocky start, the Xbox One ultimately sold well.
14) Nintendo Entertainment System – 61.91 Million
The video game industry was struggling in 1983 when Nintendo entered the console market. This created an opportunity for Japanese companies like Nintendo to take the lead, and they did so with the incredibly popular Nintendo Entertainment System, which first introduced the world to Super Mario Bros. While Nintendo has created many successful consoles since then, the NES was crucial in establishing the company’s lasting dominance.
13) Nintendo 3DS – 75.95 Million
Nintendo has consistently found success over the years, releasing many popular handheld gaming systems. Even their least successful handheld, the 3DS, demonstrates just how strong of a presence Nintendo has had in the portable gaming market.
12) PlayStation Portable – 80 Million
The PSP was a huge success, particularly in Japan, selling almost 20 million units. Popular games like Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Monster Hunter Portable 3rd helped drive its popularity. The PlayStation Vita, however, didn’t achieve the same level of success, largely because it didn’t have enough games.
11) PlayStation 5 – 80.3 Million+
As a huge PlayStation fan, I’ve been watching the PS5’s success, and it’s been incredible! It’s already selling like crazy since it came out in 2020, and analysts predict it’ll be a top 10 best-selling console after the 2025 holiday season. There’s even a chance it could sell over 100 million units – that would make it one of the all-time greats! While it’s unlikely to beat the PS4’s numbers, it could definitely get pretty close, especially if Sony continues making the PS5 for a while.
10) Game Boy Advance – 81.51 Million
As we’ve discussed, the Game Boy Advance probably won’t stay in the top 10 best-selling consoles for much longer. Unless Sony stops producing PlayStation 5s, it will likely surpass the GBA soon. However, the GBA remains a fantastic system with a great library of games, and it’s an important follow-up to the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color.
9) Xbox 360 – 84 Million
The Xbox 360 was a peak moment for Microsoft in the gaming world. While the PlayStation 3 ultimately sold more units, Xbox gained an early advantage by capitalizing on Sony’s initial challenges. This console also launched several hugely popular game series, including Forza Horizon, Gears of War, and Mass Effect.
8) PlayStation 3 – 87.4 Million
The PlayStation 3 initially struggled due to its high price, but Sony recovered by focusing on its online services. PlayStation Plus, with its added features, attracted a lot of players. Combined with popular games like Gran Turismo 5, the Uncharted series, and The Last of Us, this helped Sony gain momentum and ultimately succeed.
7) Wii – 101.63 Million
It’s important to remember that the Wii actually sold more units than both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. While those consoles competed for a similar audience, the Wii appealed to a broader group – you were much more likely to find it in places like daycares and retirement homes. Despite being different, the Wii was a great console with some truly original games.
6) PlayStation – 102.49 Million
The original PlayStation successfully competed with the Super Nintendo, ultimately outselling it by a significant margin. It’s particularly noteworthy that Sony and Nintendo were initially collaborating on a console before Nintendo backed out of the partnership. Sony’s decision to use CDs as the gaming format proved to be a winning strategy, allowing for iconic games like Final Fantasy 7 and Metal Gear Solid to become popular.
5) PlayStation 4 – 117.2 Million+
When Microsoft stumbled with the Xbox One’s always-on features, Sony learned from the PlayStation 3’s rocky beginning and focused on winning players back. This strategy worked incredibly well – the PS4 significantly outsold the Xbox One and continues to be made even in 2025.
4) Game Boy and Game Boy Color – 118.69 Million
It might seem a little unfair, but many lists group the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color together. The Color version was essentially an upgraded version of the first console – similar to how the PlayStation 4 Pro isn’t usually counted as a separate system. Still, the Game Boy was hugely important, introducing many people to classics like Tetris and, later, Pokémon. It’s hard to think of a better combination!
3) Nintendo Switch – 154.01 Million+
The Nintendo Switch is very close to becoming the second best-selling console ever. Since that second-place console is also made by Nintendo, the Switch is predicted to soon become the best-selling Nintendo console in history. Considering Nintendo’s overall success, that’s a remarkable achievement. While a future console, the Switch 2, is currently on track to surpass it, it remains to be seen if it can maintain that level of performance.
2) Nintendo DS – 154.02 Million
We expect the Nintendo Switch to become the best-selling Nintendo console of all time by the end of 2025, surpassing the DS. However, the DS remains the best-selling handheld console ever, which is a significant achievement. Plus, it boasts a fantastic library of games, including titles like The World Ends With You, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, and Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, and many more.
1) PlayStation 2 – 160 Million
Now, let’s talk about the PlayStation 2 – the system that set the standard for consoles. It boasts an incredible library of games, including classics like Grand Theft Auto 3, Metal Gear Solid 2, Devil May Cry, and God of War, and the list could go on and on. Plus, it could play original PlayStation games and even served as a DVD player. It also brought many console players into the world of online gaming, even before SegaNet.
The PlayStation 2 was a truly exceptional console, and it’s hard to imagine another one reaching its level of success. While the Switch 2 is off to an incredible start, maintaining that popularity for as long as the PS2 did will be a huge challenge, especially since console generations seem to be getting shorter. No matter what happens in the future, the PS2 remains one of the greatest consoles ever made.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- One of Razer’s top gaming headsets — now over 40% off on Amazon
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- Square Enix Invests in Nuuvem to Launch spawnd, a New Browser-Native Game Discovery Platform
- Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Is Taking Over the World & Anime Is Getting Harder to Deny
- Kelly Osbourne Shared Last Video With Ozzy Osbourne Days Before Death
- Every Original Avenger, Ranked By Their MCU Costumes (#2 Is Actually the Best)
- I’ve Been Rewatching The Twilight Movies (Again), And Bella Should Have Become A Vampire Way Sooner
- Resident Evil Requiem Won’t Receive New Details in Capcom’s TGS 2025 Special Program
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Transformers Officially Kick Off New Era With Anticipated Robert Kirkman Collaboration
2025-11-11 02:13