Video games have quietly become the biggest entertainment business on the planet, bigger than movies and music combined. But which franchises actually make the most money? Here’s the definitive ranking by lifetime revenue.
Table of Contents
Highest-Grossing Video Game Franchises: Quick Info
| Rank | Franchise | Lifetime Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mario | $53.9 billion |
| 2 | Pokemon | $35.4 billion (gaming only) |
| 3 | Call of Duty | $35.0 billion |
| 4 | Pac-Man | $24.0 billion |
| 5 | Candy Crush | $23.0 billion |
| 6 | Fortnite | $22.0 billion |
| 7 | Dungeon Fighter Online | $21.8 billion |
| 8 | Space Invaders | $20.0 billion |
| 9 | Street Fighter | $11.3 billion |
| 10 | Grand Theft Auto | $9.7 billion |
Mario’s Five-Decade Head Start
Nintendo’s mascot has a near four-decade lead on most rivals, with revenue stacked across games, merchandise, theme parks, and film licensing. Pokemon’s $35.4 billion figure covers games alone; count trading cards, anime, and merchandise and the franchise balloons past $115 billion, making it the highest-grossing media franchise of any kind. Grand Theft Auto rounds out the top 10 despite having released far fewer titles than most names on this list, and with GTA 6 approaching launch, that figure is about to jump significantly.
FAQs
Q1. What is the highest-grossing video game franchise of all time?
Mario, with an estimated $53.9 billion in lifetime revenue.
Q2. Is Pokemon the biggest franchise overall?
Across all media (games, cards, anime, merchandise), yes — Pokemon is the highest-grossing media franchise in history at over $115 billion.
Q3. How does Call of Duty compare to Mario?
Call of Duty trails Mario by roughly $19 billion despite launching decades later, showing how dominant annual releases and live-service monetization can be.
Q4. Could GTA 6 push Grand Theft Auto higher on this list?
Almost certainly. GTA 5 alone has sold over 210 million copies, and GTA 6 is expected to be one of the fastest-selling entertainment products ever released.
