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[Eddie-Griffin]

Years ago I know I saw it but couldn't find the link until now! http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml

This is a collection of sales through 2007 for the following systems in the United States: PS1, N64, DC, GBC, GBA, PS2, XBX, NDS, PSP and GC. Unfortunately there aren't any Jag, 3DO, or Saturn stuff, but it seems these charts are only for games that sold at least 1 million copies, which none of those consoles achived outside one game on the 3DO. (Gex 1 million)

This should be the definitive list of games sales for 8 of the 10 gaming systems, showing the top selling games for those consoles in the US. The other 2, NDS and PS2, were still being strongly supported, so while parts of their lists may still be correct, there's several sales & releases that will be excluded or missing since these charts were only updated until 2007. (NDS is NIntendo DS) These charts will be a great reference point.

PS1​

Fmt   Publisher     Title                               Units Sold (in Millions)
PSX   Sony          Gran Turismo                                        3.26
PSX   Sony          Crash Bandicoot 2                                   3.12
PSX   Sony          Gran Turismo 2                                       3.1
PSX   Sony          Crash Bandicoot 3: Wrapped                          3.05
PSX   Atari         Frogger                                             2.94
PSX   Sony          Crash Bandicoot                                     2.75
PSX   Sony          Spyro The Dragon                                    2.75
PSX   Namco         Tekken 3                                             2.7
PSX   Activision    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2                            2.63
PSX   Atari         Driver                                              2.62
PSX   Activision    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater                              2.51
PSX   Sony**        Final Fantasy VII                                   2.45
PSX   Konami        Metal Gear Solid                                    2.43
PSX   Acclaim       WWE Warzone                                          2.2
PSX   Activision    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3                             2.1
PSX   Atari         Driver 2                                            2.05
PSX   Namco         Namco Museum Vol. 3                                    2
PSX   Squaresoft    Final Fantasy VIII                                  1.91
PSX   Sony          Crash Team Racing                                    1.9
PSX   Capcom        Resident Evil (w/ Director's Cut)                   1.88
PSX   Eidos         Tomb Raider                                         1.87
PSX   Eidos         Tomb Raider 2                                       1.78
PSX   Namco         Tekken 2                                            1.75
PSX   Capcom        Resident Evil 2 (w/ Dual Shock Ver.)                1.74
PSX   Sony          Twisted Metal 2                                     1.74
PSX   Sony          Spyro The Dragon 2                                  1.74
PSX   Electronic ArtNeed For Speed III                                   1.7
PSX   Namco         Namco Museum Vol. 1                                 1.65
PSX   THQ           WWE Smackdown! 2                                    1.57
PSX   Sony          Syphon Filter                                       1.55
PSX   Jaleco        Tetris Plus                                         1.53
PSX   Activision    Spider-Man                                           1.5
PSX   Sony          A Bug's Life                                         1.5
PSX   Midway        Mortal Kombat Trilogy                               1.45
PSX   THQ           Rugrats: Search Reptar                              1.45
PSX   Electronic Art007: Tomorrow Never Die                             1.42
PSX   Sony          Spyro: Year of the Dragon                           1.42
PSX   THQ           WWE Smackdown!                                      1.36
PSX   Ubisoft       Rayman                                              1.36
PSX   Squaresoft    Final Fantasy IX                                    1.34
PSX   Midway        Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance                      1.31
PSX   Sony          NFL GameDay 98                                      1.31
PSX   Eidos         Tomb Raider 3                                       1.3
PSX   Electronic ArtMadden 99                                           1.29
PSX   Electronic ArtMadden NFL 2000                                     1.28
PSX   Take 2        Spec Ops                                            1.27
PSX   Electronic ArtMedal of Honor                                      1.25
PSX   Sony          Cool Boarders 3                                     1.24
PSX   Electronic ArtNeed For Speed: High Stakes                         1.21
PSX   Sony          Cool Boarders 2                                     1.21
PSX   Fox InteractivCroc: Legend of Gobbos                              1.18
PSX   Electronic ArtNascar 98                                           1.16
PSX   Sony          Syphon Filter 2                                     1.16
PSX   Electronic ArtNBA Live 98                                         1.15
PSX   Take 2        Grand Theft Auto 2                                  1.15
PSX   Electronic ArtNascar 99                                           1.14
PSX   Sony          Jet Moto 2                                          1.14
PSX   Sony          Twisted Metal 3                                     1.14
PSX   THQ           WCW Nitro                                           1.13
PSX   Sony          NFL GameDay 99                                      1.12
PSX   Electronic ArtHarry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone                  1.1
PSX   Konami        Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories                         1.1
PSX   Sony          Jet Moto                                             1.1
PSX   Sony          Crash Bash                                           1.1
PSX   Electronic ArtMadden NFL 98                                       1.08
PSX   Namco         Pac-Man World                                       1.08
PSX   Sony          Twisted Metal                                       1.08
PSX   THQ           Spongebob Supersponge                               1.06
PSX   Capcom        Resident Evil 3: Nemesis                            1.05
PSX   Atari         Monopoly                                            1.03
PSX   Electronic ArtNBA Live 2000                                          1

N64​

Fmt   Publisher     Title                               Units Sold (in Millions)
N64   Nintendo      Super Mario 64                                      5.94
N64   Nintendo      GoldenEye 007                                       5.01
N64   Nintendo      Mario Kart 64                                       4.8
N64   Nintendo      Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time                    3.57
N64   Nintendo      Donkey Kong 64                                      2.87
N64   Nintendo      Pokemon Stadium                                     2.74
N64   Nintendo      Super Smash Brothers                                2.74
N64   Nintendo      Diddy Kong Racing                                   2.5
N64   Nintendo      Star Fox 64                                         2.4
N64   Nintendo      Star Wars: Shadow of the Empire                     1.73
N64   Nintendo      Wave Race 64                                        1.7
N64   Nintendo      Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask                      1.63
N64   THQ           WCW/NWO Revenge                                     1.62
N64   Nintendo      Banjo-Kazooie                                       1.61
N64   LucasArts     Star Wars Episode 1: Racer                          1.49
N64   Nintendo      Cruisin USA                                         1.48
N64   Activision    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater                              1.4
N64   LucasArts     Star Wars: Rogue Squadron                           1.38
N64   Nintendo      Perfect Dark                                        1.29
N64   Acclaim       Turok 2: Seeds of Evil                              1.14
N64   THQ           WCW Vs NWO: World Tour                              1.13
N64   Nintendo      Yoshi's Story                                       1.1
N64   Nintendo      Mario Party 2                                       1.1
N64   Nintendo      1080 Snowboarding                                   1.07
N64   Nintendo      Mario Party                                         1.07
N64   Namco         Namco Museum 64                                     1.04                              
N64   THQ           WWE No Mercy                                        1

DC​

Fmt   Publisher     Title                               Units Sold (in Millions)
DC    Sega          Sonic Adventure                                     1.05
DC    Sega          NFL 2K1                                             1.01
DC    Sega          NFL 2K                                                 1
DC    Sega          Crazy Taxi                                             1

GBC​

Fmt   Publisher     Title                               Units Sold (in Millions)
GBC   Nintendo      Pokemon Yellow                                       5.1
GBC   Nintendo      Pokemon Blue                                        5.02
GBC   Nintendo      Pokemon Red                                         4.83
GBC   Nintendo      Pokemon Silver                                      3.85
GBC   Nintendo      Pokemon Gold                                        3.75
GBC   Nintendo      Super Mario Bros. DX                                 2.8
GBC   Nintendo      Pokemon Crystal                                     1.65
GBC   Nintendo      Pokemon Trading Card Game                           1.16

GBA​

Fmt   Publisher     Title                               Units Sold (in Millions)
GBA   Nintendo      Super Mario World: Super Mario Advan                 2.4
GBA   Nintendo      Super Mario Advance                                 2.05
GBA   Nintendo      Pokemon Ruby                                        2.03
GBA   Nintendo      Mario Kart: Super Circuit                           1.99
GBA   Nintendo      Pokemon Sapphire                                    1.83
GBA   Nintendo      Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario W                 1.6
GBA   Nintendo      Pokemon Fire Red                                     1.5
GBA   Nintendo      Legend of Zelda: Four Swords                        1.33
GBA   Konami        Frogger's Adventure                                 1.31
GBA   Nintendo      Pokemon Leaf Green                                  1.3
GBA   Konami        Yu-Gi-Oh! Eternal                                   1.29
GBA   Nintendo      Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Islan                1.14

PS2​

Fmt   Publisher     Title                               Units Sold (in Millions)
PS2   Take 2        Grand Theft Auto: Vice City                         6.47
PS2   Take 2        Grand Theft Auto 3                                  5.51
PS2   Take 2        Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas                       5.14
PS2   Sony          Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec                              3.66
PS2   Electronic ArtMadden NFL 2004                                     3.43
PS2   Electronic ArtMadden NFL 2005                                     3.27
PS2   Electronic ArtMadden NFL 2003                                     2.72
PS2   Sony          SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals                              2.25
PS2   Electronic ArtMedal of Honor Frontline                            2.24
PS2   Squaresoft    Kingdom Hearts                                      2.24
PS2   Squaresoft    Final Fantasy X                                     2.22
PS2   Activision    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3                            2.07
PS2   Electronic ArtNeed for Speed: Underground                         2.05
PS2   Activision    Spider-Man: The Movie                               2.01
PS2   Konami        Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty                 2.01
PS2   Electronic ArtMadden NFL 2002                                        2
PS2   Atari         Dragon Ball Z: Budokai                              1.69
PS2   Sony          ATV Offroad Fury                                    1.67
PS2   Electronic ArtNBA Street                                          1.66
PS2   Sony          Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy                  1.66
PS2   Activision    Tony Hawk Underground                                1.6
PS2   Activision    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4                            1.57
PS2   Take 2        Max Payne                                           1.57
PS2   Vivendi UniverCrash Bandicoot: Cortex                             1.56
PS2   Take 2        Midnight Club: Street Racing                        1.55
PS2   Namco         Ace Combat 4                                        1.54
PS2   Sega          ESPN NFL 2K5                                        1.53
PS2   Electronic ArtLord of the Rings: The Two Towers                   1.48
PS2   Electronic ArtNeed for Speed: Underground 2                       1.47
PS2   Electronic ArtSimpsons Road Rage                                  1.45
PS2   Electronic ArtJames Bond: Agent Under Fire                        1.45
PS2   Sony          SOCOM II: U.S. Navy Seals                           1.42
PS2   Namco         Tekken Tag Tournament                               1.35
PS2   Activision    True Crime: Streets of LA                           1.34
PS2   Atari         Enter The Matrix                                    1.34
PS2   Sony          ATV Offroad Fury 2                                  1.33
PS2   Electronic ArtMedal of Honor: Rising Sun                          1.32
PS2   Squaresoft    Final Fantasy X-2                                   1.29
PS2   Electronic ArtNBA Live 2005                                       1.26
PS2   Electronic ArtNBA Live 2004                                       1.22
PS2   Electronic ArtMadden NFL 2001                                     1.21
PS2   Electronic ArtNBA Street Vol. 2                                   1.21
PS2   Namco         Namco Museum                                         1.2
PS2   Electronic ArtNeed for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2                       1.16
PS2   Namco         Tekken 4                                            1.16
PS2   THQ           WWE Smackdown! Shut Your Mouth                      1.16
PS2   Activision    Spider-Man: The Movie 2                             1.12
PS2   Sony          Jak II                                              1.12
PS2   Electronic ArtJames Bond 007: Nightfire                           1.11
PS2   Midway        NFL Blitz                                            1.1
PS2   Capcom        Devil May Cry                                       1.08
PS2   Electronic ArtNCAA Football 2004                                  1.06
PS2   Ubisoft       Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon                            1.06
PS2   Eidos         Hitman 2: Assassin                                  1.05
PS2   Electronic ArtLord of the Rings: Return of the Kin                1.04
PS2   Electronic ArtThe Sims                                            1.04
PS2   Sony          Ratchet & Clank                                     1.02           1
PS2   Electronic ArtNCAA Football 2003                                     1
PS2   Electronic ArtNBA Live 2003                                          1

XBOX​

Fmt   Publisher     Title                               Units Sold (in Millions)
XB    Microsoft     Halo 2                                              4.29
XB    Microsoft     Halo: Combat Evolved                                3.94
XB    Take 2        Grand Theft Auto Double Pack                         1.5
XB    Ubisoft       Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell                          1.46
XB    Microsoft     Project Gotham Racing                                1.2
XB    Sega          ESPN NFL 2K5                                         1.1
XB    Electronic ArtMadden NFL 2005                                     1.08
XB    LucasArts     Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republ                1.01                 1

GC​

Fmt   Publisher     Title                               Units Sold (in Millions)
GC    Nintendo      Super Smash Bros. Melee                             2.66         
GC    Nintendo      Mario Kart: Double Dash!!                           1.82
GC    Nintendo      Super Mario Sunshine                                 1.8
GC    Nintendo      Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker                         1.75
GC    Nintendo      Luigi's Mansion                                      1.6
GC    Nintendo      Metroid Prime                                       1.26
GC    Sega          Sonic Adventure 2 Battle                            1.05

NDS​

NDS

Nintendo

Nintendogs (all versions)

6.23

NDS

Nintendo

Pokemon Diamond / Pearl

4.33

NDS

Nintendo

New Super Mario Bros.

3.63

NDS

Nintendo

Super Mario Kart DS

3.00

NDS

Nintendo

Brain Training

2.23

NDS

Nintendo

Animal Crossing: Wild World

1.68

NDS

Nintendo

Big Brain Academy

1.27

NDS

Nintendo

Brain Training 2

1.03

NDS

Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

1.01

NDS

Nintendo

Yoshi's Island DS

1.00

PSP​

PSP

Take 2

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

1.83

PSP

Sony

Daxter

1.14

PSP

Electronic Arts

Need for Speed: Most Wanted

1.02

Now we have an idea of what Americans brought on these consoles, and a single thread to use as a reference point later.

Honestly, there are several games I'm surprised didn't sell enough to chart that I was sure would have made the cut. Some games that I did expect to chart don't seem to have done as well as I though, examples being Sonic Adventure, Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy X, Splinter Cell, and Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, I felt these would have sold more but I guess sometimes the internet can decive you into thinking things are bigger than they are.

As for PSP, looks like the Vita may have done better if it had a proper GTA game and a Daxter 2 lol.

 

[Kilau]

PSX Electronic Art Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone 1.1

Good job PS1 Hagrid.

 

[StateofMajora]

Look at those N64 sales. Nintendo went full Sega on not buying rare, huh. I will never shut up about how stupid that was.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

Look at those N64 sales. Nintendo went full Sega on not buying rare, huh. I will never shut up about how stupid that was.

Nintendo saw them as a challenge instead of an asset, which is why Dinosaur Planet scandal happened.

Though I'm surprised Donkey Kong 64 was that popular, I thought that was the one everyone hated because of the backtracking. Rare really did hit it out the park on N64.

 

[StateofMajora]

Nintendo saw them as a challenge instead of an asset, which is why Dinosaur Planet scandal happened.

Though I'm surprised Donkey Kong 64 was that popular, I thought that was the one everyone hated because of the backtracking. Rare really did hit it out the park on N64.

Dk 64 is good. Next to nobody hated it back then, people started on that with YouTube. Yes it gets repetitive but it's really well made, the music is ace and the levels are creative.

And what you said about them seen as a challenge to rare adds to how they weren't thinking with their heads.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

Dk 64 is good. Next to nobody hated it back then, people started on that with YouTube. Yes it gets repetitive but it's really well made, the music is ace and the levels are creative.

And what you said about them seen as a challenge to rare adds to how they weren't thinking with their heads.

People were saying it often back in the day, but I guess it wasn't as big a deal for most people as the people complaining let on.

 

[jm89]

Gran turismo carrying playstation for a long time. Make sure to put some respect on polyphonys name when mentioning best ps studios.

 

[ShaquilleOatmeal]

I refuse to believe these numbers simply because the hierarchy of sold-through PS2 titles being:
1. GTA Vice City
2. GTA 3
3. GTA San Andreas

By the time San Andreas came out, GTA was already a cultural phenomena. No damn way Vice and 3 outsold it.

 

[StateofMajora]

People were saying it often back in the day, but I guess it wasn't as big a deal for most people as the people complaining let on.

Well I was a kid and we all loved it, maybe some older dkc fans were hating on it lol.

I will say it's the weakest 3d platformer from rare, but that's not damning because banjo was fantastic, conker was groundbreaking. Admittedly I have nostalgia for it but I also just played through it less than a year ago, and my memory is fresh.

 

[Elysion]

Crazy that there was a time when a racing game was the most successful game on a leading platform.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

One other thing this proves is how much bigger ROTW meant for a lot of these games (well, at least quite a few of the PlayStation ones). We know Tekken 3's sales numbers are around a bit north 9 million LTD, so ROTW (i.e outside NA) accounted for almost 75% of that.

 

[March Climber]

Crazy that there was a time when a racing game was the most successful game on a leading platform.

These type of lists were back during the time when the general public didn't wall themselves off from all other genres just to play online GTA, online building games, online competitive shooters, or online sports games, all day and night. The difference in variety is astounding.

On a side note I have not heard of that specific website in ages.

 

[Ozriel]

On a side note I have not heard of that specific website in ages.

That used to be my favorite gaming website back then. Lots of screenshots!

 

[March Climber]

That used to be my favorite gaming website back then. Lots of screenshots!

Same. It was how I found out about so many B games and japanese games that would fly under the radar during those times.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Crazy that how low the n64 sales were compared to playstation but Nintendo still did Nintendo and sold millions of units of software. Even xbox to a degree.

I don't think ill ever get my head around it but I love to see it.

 

[Hip Hop]

I refuse to believe these numbers simply because the hierarchy of sold-through PS2 titles being:
1. GTA Vice City
2. GTA 3
3. GTA San Andreas

By the time San Andreas came out, GTA was already a cultural phenomena. No damn way Vice and 3 outsold it.

you made a good observation

 

[Sleepwalker]

Well I was a kid and we all loved it, maybe some older dkc fans were hating on it lol.

I will say it's the weakest 3d platformer from rare, but that's not damning because banjo was fantastic, conker was groundbreaking. Admittedly I have nostalgia for it but I also just played through it less than a year ago, and my memory is fresh.

Dk64 fucking slapped. It was the first game I got on xmas with my n64. Loved it to bits, still remember parts of the dk rap lmao

 

[Stuart360]

Wow i always felt that Vice City felt a much bigger game at the time than San Andreas. It seemed to be the general concensous that San Andres sold more but i guess i was right lol (never actually looked into sales figures, but Vice City just felt a bigger deal at that time).

Also it shows how much better games sell these days doesnt it. I'm very surprised at how low some of these games sold, especially compared to even just solid games today.

 

[Iced Arcade]

I refuse to believe these numbers simply because the hierarchy of sold-through PS2 titles being:
1. GTA Vice City
2. GTA 3
3. GTA San Andreas

By the time San Andreas came out, GTA was already a cultural phenomena. No damn way Vice and 3 outsold it.

San Andreas also launched on the heels on a next gen launch so there is that.

Vice city was absolutely massive.

 

[Pejo]

It's always so disappointing to see the sales giants in a console generation. Rarely if ever do you have anything unique reach the top. Interesting nonetheless though.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

1. What ever happened to Magicbox? I remember them from way back focusing on obscure game news and imports. Then they just let it go.

2. Ok, show of hands. Frogger on PS1 sold 3M copies. Even more than Crash and Tony Hawk 2. Which gaffers bought it?

3. Namco Museum sold 2M copies. Look at all the games below it it beat out. Crazy.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

It's always so disappointing to see the sales giants in a console generation. Rarely if ever do you have anything unique reach the top. Interesting nonetheless though.

It's interesting to see how smoothed out the sales are from top sellers compared to the 10th or 20th game. Ya, some Nintendo top sellers skew high, but for most other hardware the sales curve seem pretty gradual.

Now compare the top 20 games in modern day. You'll get the big games selling 20M copies and the 15th rank game maybe 3M.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

Apart from GTA, it appears that the best-selling titles on PS2 didn’t do much better than PS1’s top sellers in the grand scheme of things. Judging by GTA alone you’d think the much higher worldwide sales of the PS2 would lead to its top software selling much more on average, but we’re still talking 2.something to 3.something million. Still a landslide more than anything on GC, and anything on OG XBox except for Halo. Halo was really huge.

Pokémon first gen did almost 15 million combined, the game’s success on a hardware way past its expiration date was absolutely phenomenal and one of gaming’s greatest success stories.

The GBA’s top-sellers list is a travesty, but at least it shows that people have some very rose-tinted glasses when reminiscing about the system. Your favorite games on the GBA are mostly stuff nobody really heard or cared about, unfortunately. It was a Mario and Pokémon machine, pretty much every other cult classic for the system is more niche than most people imagine.

It’s very interesting that the best-selling home console of all time’s top US seller didn’t make it to 6 million copies. Really shows how much the market has changed in 20 years.

 

[TheDuskwalker]

I refuse to believe these numbers simply because the hierarchy of sold-through PS2 titles being:
1. GTA Vice City
2. GTA 3
3. GTA San Andreas

By the time San Andreas came out, GTA was already a cultural phenomena. No damn way Vice and 3 outsold it.

You are correct. San Andreas sold 5.1 million in US alone just in 2004.

2004 U.S. Console Sales Charts Released

NPD has released a detailed breakdown of the top ten selling console games in North America throughout 2004. As

www.gamedeveloper.com

 

[Mownoc]

I refuse to believe these numbers simply because the hierarchy of sold-through PS2 titles being:
1. GTA Vice City
2. GTA 3
3. GTA San Andreas

By the time San Andreas came out, GTA was already a cultural phenomena. No damn way Vice and 3 outsold it.

The link in the OP isn't working for me. Not sure what date his figures are updated to but the link I found is updated for 27th December 2007 and has higher figures:

GTA Vice City - 8.2m
GTA San Andreas - 7.89m
GTA 3 - 6.55m

So between the OP figures and these figures SA closed the gap to Vice City by 1m units. It's very possible SA overtook Vice City after Dec 2007 at some point.

The Magic Box - US Platinum Chart Games.

The Magic Box - US Platinum Chart Games.

web.archive.org

 

[CatsGamesWhatever]

If you ever wanted proof graded games were in a speculative bubble there it is.
Mario 64 selling almost 6 million copies but still selling sealed at $1 million!
Not to mention Pokemon the best sellers for every handheld but still commanding huge prices (i get the demand but IMO still not reflected in the market price enough).

 

[deriks]

Crazy that there was a time when a racing game was the most successful game on a leading platform.

and still, we basically have a saying that not a single sports game never/will won GOTY

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

you made a good observation

No he didn't.

I refuse to believe these numbers simply because the hierarchy of sold-through PS2 titles being:
1. GTA Vice City
2. GTA 3
3. GTA San Andreas

By the time San Andreas came out, GTA was already a cultural phenomena. No damn way Vice and 3 outsold it.

Wow i always felt that Vice City felt a much bigger game at the time than San Andreas. It seemed to be the general concensous that San Andres sold more but i guess i was right lol (never actually looked into sales figures, but Vice City just felt a bigger deal at that time).

Also it shows how much better games sell these days doesnt it. I'm very surprised at how low some of these games sold, especially compared to even just solid games today.

San Andreas also launched on the heels on a next gen launch so there is that.

Vice city was absolutely massive.

The link in the OP isn't working for me. Not sure what date his figures are updated to but the link I found is updated for 27th December 2007 and has higher figures:

GTA Vice City - 8.2m
GTA San Andreas - 7.89m
GTA 3 - 6.55m

So between the OP figures and these figures SA closed the gap to Vice City by 1m units. It's very possible SA overtook Vice City after Dec 2007 at some point.

http://[URL]https://web.archive.org...//www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml

[/URL]

The List is accurate.

Gentlemen, you seemed to have missed this part of the OP:

The other 2, NDS and PS2, were still being strongly supported, so while parts of their lists may still be correct, there's several sales & releases that will be excluded or missing since these charts were only updated until 2007.

I mean God of War 2 launched in 2007. Magic box did have later sales, but those seem to have all vanished and the site is basically a shell now.

<>

You are correct. San Andreas sold 5.1 million in US alone just in 2004.

http://[URL]https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/2004-u-s-console-sales-charts-released

[/URL]

That is not what you're link says, it says "North America" not the US, this is US specifically. There's no way San Andreas sold 5 million in one year in the US, the same year it came out. It would only have 2 or so months on the shelves, and the maximum analysts where expecting was 4 million: https://money.cnn.com/2004/10/25/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Crazy that there was a time when a racing game was the most successful game on a leading platform.

And back then look how crazy popular all those skateboarding games were.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

One other thing this proves is how much bigger ROTW meant for a lot of these games (well, at least quite a few of the PlayStation ones). We know Tekken 3's sales numbers are around a bit north 9 million LTD, so ROTW (i.e outside NA) accounted for almost 75% of that.

Tekken 3 sold 8 something on the PS1, not 9 million.

Also it shows how much better games sell these days doesnt it. I'm very surprised at how low some of these games sold, especially compared to even just solid games today.

Well this is US specific, and many games still sell around those same numbers, only certain types of games are bigger ips seem to sell over 4 million US these days, or the MTX/MP/MMO AAA stuff on console and PC.

I mean games that sell 8 million copies WW are definitely higher, but if only 2-3 million of that is US that seems to be on par.

1. What ever happened to Magicbox? I remember them from way back focusing on obscure game news and imports. Then they just let it go.

2. Ok, show of hands. Frogger on PS1 sold 3M copies. Even more than Crash and Tony Hawk 2. Which gaffers bought it?

3. Namco Museum sold 2M copies. Look at all the games below it it beat out. Crazy.

1. The site is still around at bare minimum but much of the site doesn't work, some years ago they removed direct links to several pages that you can only get too if you know the URL, I am assuming based on older forum posts that NPD and GFK or other Euro trackers (they started posting stuff more couple years before they suddenly went poof) most have issued an ultimatum and they just kind of let the site die off. It's barely anything now, and you have to search forum sites or old social media sites (or the archive of them) to find links to pages that do still exist and weren't erased. Shame really, it wasn't just sales they used to have a LOT of great info generally.

2. Likely many US gaffers did that owned a Playstation, Frogger outdid Parappa in a quick price cut to $20 and was always part of bundle deals or bargain bins, but what's more is people actually wanted it, because none of the other bargain bin games that were common, or other old school arcade remakes sold anything like Frogger. It sold so well they made a sequel which did the complete opposite and failed. Heck, I even have two copies, and one still in plastic wrap only slightly torn.

3. Namco Museum 3 was released in the middle of 96, but why it did better than the first game was the presentation. This was the museum that had this hidden battle scene:


all the rooms were cool and had great remixed tracks:
(Ms.Pacman)
(Phozon)
(Pole Position II)

and it had Ms.Pac Man, the only way to play Pole Position without need an Atari 7800, and had a better selection than the first collection, which still did well on it's own and made the list. Also helps the Playstation games were actually museums adding about 2 hours of content along with the games. You'll likely notice those that Vol 2, Vol 4, and Vol 5 are nowhere to be found though.

Apart from GTA, it appears that the best-selling titles on PS2 didn’t do much better than PS1’s top sellers in the grand scheme of things. Judging by GTA alone you’d think the much higher worldwide sales of the PS2 would lead to its top software selling much more on average, but we’re still talking 2.something to 3.something million. Still a landslide more than anything on GC, and anything on OG XBox except for Halo. Halo was really huge.

Pokémon first gen did almost 15 million combined, the game’s success on a hardware way past its expiration date was absolutely phenomenal and one of gaming’s greatest success stories.

The GBA’s top-sellers list is a travesty, but at least it shows that people have some very rose-tinted glasses when reminiscing about the system. Your favorite games on the GBA are mostly stuff nobody really heard or cared about, unfortunately. It was a Mario and Pokémon machine, pretty much every other cult classic for the system is more niche than most people imagine.

It’s very interesting that the best-selling home console of all time’s top US seller didn’t make it to 6 million copies. Really shows how much the market has changed in 20 years.

San Andreas is the best selling PS2 game and the PS2 sold 155 million units. People over estimate how many people used it as a cheap DVD player and even Music player especially in later years when it was $100 down to $50 in certain regions. Also there were Disc Reading issues with early models and Sony didn't have a 360 like replacement plan, and there was I think the "yellow tape" PS2's that had issues and people have to replace them. All of this adds up.

Keep in mind the 360 came close to touching the PS2 in the US, with a higher ceiling for top selling games, and around 70 million console sales away.

As for GBA that was expected. The GBC was still a hit in the early days, the Ngage, while people laugh at it, did take some sales away for a short time, engagement wasn't too high until the SP models came out with the backlight which was a common complaint, and that "light cover" solution was not a solution for the original GBA models. Considering the Game Gear and Lynx were 10 and 12 years old respectively people were epecting Nintendo to finally due a back light which they eventually did, but didn't at first.

Also a lot of SNES ports and remakes were taking up marketing and shelves compared to more unique titles, there was also shelf space taken up by the short lived GBA "movie & TV" cartridges which didn't go anywhere and almost everyone forgot about those. You then had the additional dumb move of over marketing the "NES classic" which where literally the actual NES games unchanged in cartridge form which took up space and marketing that other, better games could have taken. Finally, there was the GBA Micro, which was overhyped and ended up just being a brighter but fragile, smaller, rectangular GBA, with a backlight granted but people didn't really care for it. It seemed to be aimed for Japan but was promoted everywhere as an important revision.

But even for the games that did get through, people didn't really adopt them in too high of numbers. There wasn't really a "killer app" on the GBA, or a bunch of middle hits that could move software, favorites where basically capped in sales up to a certain number. Many favorites didn't even do half a million so expecting them to hit a million is pointless. It just really wasn't that popular, and the DS suffered a bit early on because of it, the DS early on was relying on GBA association to sell, with nearly full backwards compatibility, and that didn't really create the migration Nintendo was hoping.

 

[TheDuskwalker]

That is not what you're link says, it says "North America" not the US, this is US specifically. There's no way San Andreas sold 5 million in one year in the US, the same year it came out. It would only have 2 or so months on the shelves, and the maximum analysts where expecting was 4 million: https://money.cnn.com/2004/10/25/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm

Oh yeah, right, NPD does include Canada, so that does include a boost if Magixbox is USA specific, but that does bring up another inconsistency (not with your original list in the OP, but with the Magicbox link in Mowcho's post).

The linkin the OP isn't working for me. Not sure what date his figures are updated to but the link I found is updated for 27th December 2007 and has higher figures:

GTA Vice City - 8.2m
GTA San Andreas - 7.89m
GTA 3 - 6.55m

So between the OP figures and these figures SA closed the gap to Vice City by 1m units. It's very possible SA overtook Vice City after Dec 2007 at some point.

The Magic Box - US Platinum Chart Games.

The Magic Box - US Platinum Chart Games.

web.archive.org

I found NPD's list for top selling NA video games of all time as of June 2008, and it only had Vice City at 7.3, and GTA3 6.2.

GTA: San Andreas tops US all-time game sales

Forbes recently ran a story focusing on the best-selling US games using updated NPD Group data.

www.gamesindustry.biz

Vice City and GTA3 should be lower on Magicbox compared to NPD (like in Eddie's post). Seems some numbers got scuffed after they stopped updating regularly.

 

[Northeastmonk]

The admin at The-Magicbox has been impossible to contact. That’s where I first started to post and met lots of great people. The admin shut it down or hasn’t done anything to the site in months. They use to do weekly Famitsu news in the early 00’s.

 

[Doczu]

If you ever wanted proof graded games were in a speculative bubble there it is.
Mario 64 selling almost 6 million copies but still selling sealed at $1 million!
Not to mention Pokemon the best sellers for every handheld but still commanding huge prices (i get the demand but IMO still not reflected in the market price enough).

Well the issue is that games like Mario or Pokemon were mostly kids games and probably most of the cartridges are either forgotten in cellars and attics or ended poorly.
No chance in hell you'll ever buy a "mint condition, complete box" copy of Poke Yellow that was in the hands of a 10 year old when launched. I speak from experience.
Where are those games anyway? One would think they would flood the market once they get newer consoles, but they look like they are lost in space

 

[BeardGawd]

Banjo Kazooie seems low to me. Interesting list. Nintendo still the software sales leader.

 

[Ladioss]

1. What ever happened to Magicbox? I remember them from way back focusing on obscure game news and imports. Then they just let it go.

On a side note I have not heard of that specific website in ages.

Wasn't it blacklisted or something on Gaf and/or RE years ago ? I think I remember something like that, can't remember the exact reason thought.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

Oh yeah, right, NPD does include Canada, so that does include a boost if Magixbox is USA specific, but that does bring up another inconsistency (not with your original list in the OP, but with the Magicbox link in Mowcho's post).

I found NPD's list for top selling NA video games of all time as of June 2008, and it only had Vice City at 7.3, and GTA3 6.2.

http://[URL]https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gta-san-andreas-tops-us-all-time-videogame-sales

[/URL]
Vice City and GTA3 should be lower on Magicbox compared to NPD (like in Eddie's post). Seems some numbers got scuffed after they stopped updating regularly.

Probably took whatever NA NPD stuff was left before they let the site die. Magicbox was consistent with their lists before then.

Wasn't it blacklisted or something on Gaf and/or RE years ago ? I think I remember something like that, can't remember the exact reason thought.

Doing a search seems magic Box was mentioned here somewhat frequently until 2012 and then it's rarely mentioned here and there. Which seems to be around the same time PD first started having a stick up their butts so there may be a connection.

Mario 64 selling almost 6 million copies but still selling sealed at $1 million!

To be fair that was staged, as that uh, buyer is known for doing so or that's what people who investigated them brought out. Plus the speech they gave about its important is complete hyperbole, and being the first 3D game with a separate loose camera is also a lie. It's like they added spice to make it seem like the game was actually worth that much.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

I noticed that the Final Fantasy games are lower than expected on second glance at the lists.

For PS1 FF7 was the only one to sell a couple million, looking at other games that sold similarly, it looks like 2 million was the sales level for most blockbuster games then, and GT and Crash were just outliers that did incredibly well. But I find it curious there wasn't as much interest in FF8 and 9 which would have been for many newcomers, sequels to FF7. Usually sequels = growth yet that's not the case here.

Kind to think of it, Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, X, X-2, and Kingdom Hearts are the only Jrpgs on ANY of these lists not named Pokemon. I guess Jrpgs weren't popular enough to sell a million copies on average unless Final Fantasy characters were in the game or the game involved catching monsters on a portable.

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[Dream-Knife]

Damn Goldeneye was #2 in the US?

 

[Kagoshima_Luke]

GC Nintendo Metroid Prime 1.26

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

Damn Goldeneye was #2 in the US?

it was number one in Europe iirc, was a very popular game. Arguably sold more systems than Mario did. Was also the biggest game that wasn't as family friendly in USA, which shows what the consumers were leaning toward, more mature games. As for Europe it's James Bond, was always popular there so a 3D James bond experience was considered a dream come true then.

When i say the biggest game that wasn't family friendly I wasn't just talking about the N64 either, but all gaming consoles. If you exclude GT, the first mature game on the PSX list is Driver.

 

[Dream-Knife]

it was number one in Europe iirc, was a very popular game. Arguably sold more systems than Mario did. Was also the biggest game that wasn't as family friendly in USA, which shows what the consumers were leaning toward, more mature games. As for Europe it's James Bond, was always popular there so a 3D James bond experience was considered a dream come true then.

When i say the biggest game that wasn't family friendly I wasn't just talking about the N64 either, but all gaming consoles. If you exclude GT, the first mature game on the PSX list is Driver.

I know Goldeneye was the reason we all wanted a 64 back then.

It is very surprising to see PD not doing so well after the success of GE.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

I know Goldeneye was the reason we all wanted a 64 back then.

It is very surprising to see PD not doing so well after the success of GE.

Not really, N64 was declining by then, the game droughts took its toll on software gradually over the years, and Perfect Dark required the expansion pack if not mistaken, if not it at the least it was marketed as a game for the expansion pack regardless, that was automatically going to lower sales. GoldenEye bundles were still selling too.

Honestly I'm surprised it did that well considering how hyped and controversial Conker was in gaming mags and online back then and that didn't even chart.

 

[Dream-Knife]

Not really, N64 was declining by then, the game droughts took its toll on software gradually over the years, and Perfect Dark required the expansion pack if not mistaken, if not it at the least it was marketed as a game for the expansion pack regardless, that was automatically going to lower sales. GoldenEye bundles were still selling too.

Honestly I'm surprised it did that well considering how hyped and controversial Conker was in gaming mags and online back then and that didn't even chart.

The N64 was just under 4 years old when that came out. Expansion pak might have been an issue, but IIRC they were $30. Even came with DK64.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

The N64 was just under 4 years old when that came out. Expansion pak might have been an issue, but IIRC they were $30. Even came with DK64.

Just? N64 was quickly dying in 2000 and not jsut in the US which is likely the only place where it was still selling.

N64 was over 29 million units in August 25th 2000 (Kansas City Star)

the N64's lifetime total sales worldwide is 32 million, so we are talking less than 3 million units in space. Software sales were dropping like lead.

Making the expansion pak and issue was not the best move, so the fact PD sold as much as it did was impressive.

 

[Ebele]

dam pokemon had the GBC on lock

 

[Dream-Knife]

Just? N64 was quickly dying in 2000 and not jsut in the US which is likely the only place where it was still selling.

N64 was over 29 million units in August 25th 2000 (Kansas City Star)

the N64's lifetime total sales worldwide is 32 million, so we are talking less than 3 million units in space. Software sales were dropping like lead.

Making the expansion pak and issue was not the best move, so the fact PD sold as much as it did was impressive.

That doesn't mean the console is dead, the people that bought an N64 still had them.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

That doesn't mean the console is dead, the people that bought an N64 still had them.

New adopters are often needed to buy software, Nintendo 64 software was pretty much over outside the US by that point, and even that was on decline if there was still such an active installbase, the N64 wouldn't have started being pulled from stores in 2001 and discontinued in iirc 2003.

You have the expansion pack and the lack of Goldeneye players still among the active n64 install base for Perfect Darks sales, among other issues. The fact it still sold over 1 million is impressive despite that. If the expansion pack wasn't prominent and there more people still using the N64 it may have reached Majors mask levels of sales.

dam pokemon had the GBC on lock

Now that I think about it, what else was there to buy? The Zelda Oracle games? Mega Man V? Metal Gear Solid? Kirby tilt and Tumble? Resident Evil? Many of the games were bad or heavily compromised attempts to bring consoles hits to portable, the others just weren't reasons to buy the system.

Pokemon was on fire, and even Dragon Warrior monsters, a pokemon clone, didn't sell. GBC for most consumers seems was really just a new way to play color versions of Yellow, Gold and Silver.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Eddie-Griffin 8.36 million according to Katsuhiro Harada. But still, the general point of the comment remains: ROTW was definitely the larger share of overall sales.

 

[Chiggs]

Vice City > San Andreas