In this bubbling ecosystem, which games are the most popular? What sets them apart, and how do developers keep their communities engaged?
These are just some of the questions that will help us to unveil the global successes that you will find in this top list. To reach the heights of the industry and attract millions of players, a video game must be technically irreproachable, demonstrate high artistic quality, and offer a unique experience to its users through a strong and differentiating concept.
These are essential ingredients in guaranteeing the success of a project, and its long-term success, as is the case with the games we present below.
Without further ado, here are the top 6 most-played video games in the world in 2025, according to the latest studies by the Newzoo analysis institute and our own research.
6. League of Legends
Released in 2009, League of Legends remains one of the most popular games almost 16 years after its launch. This success is due in no small part to a very active eSports scene, with national and international competitions culminating in the League of Legends World Championship.
It was also its concept that set the game apart from its competitors. Inspired by a Warcraft III mod combining real-time strategy and role-playing, League of Legends (like DotA) popularised the multiplayer online battle arena, or MOBA.
Two teams of five players face off in epic battles, and the stakes can become colossal when you consider that the world championship can earn the winning team several million dollars.
The Arcane series was also inspired by League of Legends , although the popularity of the series has not necessarily been reflected in the growth of the LoL audience.
5. Roblox
Whereas League of Legends is based on a highly codified universe, Roblox stands out for the total freedom it offers its users. This online gaming platform, which in 2025 will have more than 85 million daily users, is as much a game as an ecosystem enabling players to create their own experiences and share them with the community.
Very popular with young people, the platform has also become a real communications tool for certain brands, who run advertising games and even offer exclusive virtual concerts.
Here, it is the ability to shape the game and share your creations that has won over the public, even if Roblox has also been criticised for its lack of moderation, and its unscrupulous practices in terms of microtransactions with a minor audience. Despite this, Roblox is now one of the most played games in the world, and by a very large proportion of the population.
4. GTA V
Grand Theft Auto , the flagship licence from publisher Rockstar Games, was a record-breaking game at the time of its release. This open-world action-adventure game, which puts players in the shoes of three bandits, cost over 260 million dollars. A staggering budget in 2013, but one that pales in comparison to the studio’s revenue today.
By May 2025, GTA V had sold more than 215 million copies across all media, making it the second best-selling game in this ranking. Thanks to its many updates, an active modding community, high-level storytelling and extremely rich open world, GTA V remains a must-have for many gamers.
3. Counter-Strike / Call Of Duty
How can you tell the difference between these two FPSs, the first of which is the most played PC game in the world, and the second of which is one of the three most played console games?
One thing is certain, both franchises deserve their place in this ranking.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2 competitions broadcast around the world attract millions of spectators, and some exclusive skins sell for over a million dollars.
For its part, Call of Duty is banking on a multiplicity of platforms, notably through Call of Duty Mobile. In May 2025, the game (now in its sixth season) had been downloaded more than 100 million times from the Play Store.
2. Fortnite
Released in 2017, Fortnite revolutionised video gaming by introducing the concept of battle royale.
100 players fight to the last survivor in this first free-to-play mode, which has now become a veritable social phenomenon.
In 2025, this game, which has become an ecosystem including a large catalogue of Epic Games games and a large number of modes created by both developers and users, has more than 110 million monthly users and has generated more than $40 billion since its release.
A behemoth of an industry, deploying on consoles as well as via the cloud and mobile gaming, perfectly in tune with the consumption habits of video game users in 2025.
1. Minecraft
With over 350 million copies sold, Minecraft is undoubtedly the most popular pay-to-play game in the world.
This sandbox game was created by Swedish designer Markus Persson and developed by Mojang Studios, and now has almost 200 million monthly users.
Millions of players are enjoying the multiple experiences offered by Minecraft, which is both a survival and a construction game.
Released over 15 years ago, the growth of this unique game launched in 2009 remains exponential, and its recent film adaptation (which is approaching the billion-dollar mark in revenue) is unlikely to change that, making Minecraft the most played game in the world.
What criteria are used to rank the world’s most popular games?
To establish the rankings of the world’s most-played games, statistical institutes take a number of parameters into account.
On the one hand, there is of course the number of copies sold, which can give (as in the case of Minecraft) a very clear indication of a game’s popularity.
But in the case of free-to-play games, this measure makes no sense. Games will therefore be assessed on the basis of the number of active users, as well as the revenue generated by in-game purchases. The number of active users can be measured on a daily (DAU) or monthly (MAU) basis, and these two figures give a fairly accurate picture of a game’s popularity.
By 2025, League of Legends will be welcoming between 12 and 15 million players a day across all its servers.
The impact of eSport on the popularity of video games
eSport is a key factor in the popularity of some of the games in our top ten, such as League of Legends, but also games like Counter Strike and Call of Duty.
Free games vs paid games: who dominates?
Are you following a course in video games, and wondering about the most interesting model for your future projects?
In 2025, free-to-play is definitely on a roll, driven by the masses of younger players and mobile gamers, who are more used to this model.
The games we mention below are mostly free-to-play, which is also the case for Rocket League, DOTA 2 and Marvel Rivals, all three of which made it into our top ten.
Is the future in free-to-play games? In any case, the free-to-play effect was decisive for The Sims 4. Released in 2014, the 4th opus in the franchise was given a second wind in 2022 when EA decided to make it available for free. Since then, players have continued to flock to the game, putting it right at the edge of our top 6, with over 85 million players, 19 expansions, 12 content packs and new expansions still being produced today. This success is the stuff of dreams for the company, which is working on a new version of The Sims, this time with multiplayer.