The Top Selling Games of 2008

moneyEach and every year, video game developers push to come out with that mega blockbuster that shatters sales. And each and every year, the final list of which games sold the best is always slightly baffling. While we gamers have our top titles, the general public doesn’t always feel that way. So how about this year?

Well, MTV Multiplayer has combined the numbers across consoles to figure out the top 5 selling games of 2008. You might be surprised. List after the jump!

Here’s the list, numbers in millions of units:

1. Wii Play 5.28
2. Madden NFL ‘09 5.25
3. Grand Theft Auto IV 5.22
4. Mario Kart w/ Wheel 5.00
5. Call of Duty: World at War 4.63

And there you have it. If I had a chance to guess, I probably would have picked MGS 4, Left 4 Dead or Gears of War 2 to be on there, but I would have been way, way off. Apparently what I know couldn’t fill a truck.

So, how about you guys? Surprised at all? About what you’d expect?

Source- MTV Multiplayer

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I write about samurai girls and space marines. Writer for Smooth Few Films. Rooster Teeth Freelancer. Author of Red vs. Blue, The Ultimate Fan Guide, out NOW!

12 thoughts on “The Top Selling Games of 2008”

  1. 2, 3, 4, and 5 doesn’t surprise me at all really. BUT WHAT THE HELL? WII PLAY WAS #1?! What’s the world coming to?

  2. The lengths that the Wii consumer will go for an extra controller…

    I’m surprised to see Call of Duty up there. I played it, and found it to be a competent, if extremely repetitive, shooter.

  3. Srry for double post but I would also like to note that every game on that list except GTA 4 came out on the wii. (I am assuming Madden 09 All Play is the same but I could be wrong)

  4. Wow….this is hardcore surprising. Seriously. Uggh, Wii games. My Wii sits and doesn’t get played. Seriously is gaming going to younger kids now a days? Though we shouldn’t be to surprised. Honestly the family system selling the most, cant be too surprising.

  5. Here is my not-so-expert opinion:

    5. Call of Duty: World at War 4.63 – It was totally riding the success of COD4, a lot of people hated it but I found it to be an enjoyable game. The flame-throwers were meh-ey though. I have to admit the ending did choke me up a lil 😛

    4. Mario Kart w/ Wheel 5.00 – Not really surprised about this, It’s mario kart baby! Had a lot to live up to and I enjoyed it quite a lot, except for the dam item spam. Also it was pretty darn cheap really, with the wheel. Probably the best online Wii game out there.

    3. Grand Theft Auto IV 5.22 – It’s GTA, does anymore need to be said? I do wonder if this is the PC and 360 mixed or just the 360.

    2. Madden NFL ‘09 5.25 – Meh, Not a fan of any of these “Release the same game each year with better graphics and different people sometimes” Haven’t played any of the Madden NFL games since waaaay back so I can’t really comment.

    1. Wii Play 5.28 – Oh dear god, REALLY? Even being the huge Ninty fan I am (I stopped using the word fanboy because I am willing to admit my console/games has/have flaws etc.(i.e LET SONIC DIE PLEASE)) I find this ridiculous…What some people do to get an extra controller, eh? I would basically say most of the sales happen in a situation like this:

    “Ok so we are getting a Wii and a game for me/you/our son/daughter/friend/roomate/spouse/relative but we should get him/her an extra controller.”

    “You’re right let’s see what they have”

    “Ohh look, this one comes with a game…And it’s really cheap!”

    tl:dr – Wii Play is sh$%. The horse game and the target shooting game are the only passable ones, and I wouldn’t even call those games.

  6. [quote comment=”3935″]Madden? Really? Isn’t it the same damn game as last year?[/quote]

    Ya it is, but jus a slight change in the player status, and graphics. I jus think they should keep the stuff updated by the Internet.

    This again is a list what casual gamers buy. There are lot more of them than REAL gamers.

  7. Wii Play as #1…
    Probably from all the promos as it comes free with pretty much anything Wii.
    Although the Tank Game on Wii Play was pretty HARDOUT!!!
    Lolz…

  8. [quote comment=”3944″][quote comment=”3935″]Madden? Really? Isn’t it the same damn game as last year?[/quote]

    Ya it is, but jus a slight change in the player status, and graphics. I jus think they should keep the stuff updated by the Internet.

    This again is a list what casual gamers buy. There are lot more of them than REAL gamers.[/quote]
    Yea, but remember? they dont make more money when they do stuff like that. New copy EVERY year!

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