Here's the story behind it
PUBG: Battlegrounds is the best-selling PC game ever, with a staggering 42 million copies sold as of 2024. This battle royale phenomenon has outpaced other popular titles, showcasing its enduring appeal and the massive following it has garnered since its release at the end of 2017. PUBG's success can be attributed to the rising popularity of the battle royale genre, realistic mechanics, and immersive gameplay experience.
PUBG set records for concurrent players on Steam (3.2 million) and became a cultural phenomenon, similar to Fortnite, which is arguably just as popular and extends beyond the PC platform. Due to competition from numerous other shooter titles like Valorant and Apex Legends, PUBG became free-to-play in 2022.
Minecraft is the second best-selling PC title. Developed by Mojang Studios (now owned by Microsoft), the game was officially released in November 2011 after an initial public release in 2009. Created by Markus "Notch" Persson, Minecraft offers a sandbox environment where players can build, explore, and survive in a blocky, procedurally generated 3D world.
Minecraft's unique and flexible gameplay mechanics have allowed it to appeal to a broad audience, from young children to adults. Over time, Minecraft expanded to various platforms, further boosting its sales. As of 2024, Minecraft has sold 33 million copies on PC alone and over 300 million units across all platforms, making it the #1 game in total sales.
Other popular PC games rounding up the top 10 includes Terraria, an action-adventure game released in 2011 (23 million copies on PC). The game combines exploration, crafting, building, and combat in a procedurally generated 2D world.
Diablo III released in May 2012, continues the legacy of the Diablo series with 20 million copies sold, it remains a staple in the ARPG genre. Stardew Valley is a farm life simulation game released in 2016 accounts for to 19 million copies sold.
The Sims, Garry's Mod, Rust, Palworld, The Witcher 3, Half-Life 2, World of Warcraft, and Euro Truck Simulator 2 have all sold well over 10 million copies.