The Top 10 Best-Selling Games

Halo 3 might shatter sales records, but Master Chief has a long way to go before he topples these gaming giants.

By Ben Silverman

t's official -- the fight has been finished. With Grand Theft Auto IV on the blocks until early next year, it's a pretty safe bet that Halo 3 will be the best-selling game of 2007. On Wednesday Microsoft gleefully announced a $170 million take on opening day alone, making it the highest-grossing single day launch in entertainment history. To give you some perspective, current box-office champ Spider-Man 3 enjoyed an opening weekend total of about $150 million. Master Chief does whatever a spider can and then some.

But despite such astronomical revenue, the Halo trilogy barely cracks the worldwide best-selling franchises Top 40, currently resting at a comfy 15 million units sold. Tack on a generous 10 million more courtesy of Halo 3 (Halo 2 rests at 9 million) and it's still light years away from competing with these formidable franchises.

10. Gran Turismo

Units sold: 47 million
Defining game: Gran Turismo (PSOne)

9. Donkey Kong

Units sold: 48 million
Defining game: Donkey Kong (Arcade)

8. The Legend of Zelda

Units sold: 52 million
Defining game: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)

7. Madden NFL

Units sold: 60 million
Defining game: Oh, just pick one.

6. Tetris

Units sold: 60 million
Defining game: Tetris (Game Boy)

5. Grand Theft Auto

Units sold: 65 million
Defining game: GTA III (PS2)

4. Final Fantasy

Units sold: 75 million
Defining game: Final Fantasy VII (PSOne)

3. The Sims

Units sold: 90 million
Defining game: The Sims (PC)

2. Pokemon

Units sold: 164 million
Defining game: Pokemon Red/Blue (Game Boy)

1. Mario

Units sold: 195 million
Defining game: Super Mario Bros. (NES).