Skip to main content

PS3 Has the Most Top Selling Games of the Year So Far

Image used with permission by copyright holder

A new report out from NPD breaks down the 30 best selling games of the year, across all systems. Nothing really shocking, but there are some interesting trends.

Despite reports of Wii sales slowing at a faster than expected rate, much of which is being blamed on the lack of game selection, a Wii game- New Super Mario Bros.- continues to hold the top spot while two others- Sports Resort w/Wii Motion Plus and Fit Plus w/Balance Board- are in the top 10. The European numbers are even better for the Wii.

The Nintendo DS didn’t fare quite as well, but it does have the second best selling game in Pokeman: Soulsilver Version. Overall it holds six of the top 30 spots.

Also of note is the rise of PlayStation 3. The PS3 finally seems to be hitting its stride. The consoles are beginning to turn a profit after years of taking a loss on each unit sold, God of War III took the third spot and no doubt helped move some consoles, and if Final Fantasy XIII is any indication, fans are beginning to choose the PS3 versions of multiplatform games. The PS3 version of FFXIII came in 7th, while the Xbox 360’s version was a distant 15th. The PS3 version of Dante’s Inferno also managed to outsell its Xbox 360 counterpart. Overall, the Sony has the most games in the top 30, with nine top sellers.

Things aren’t looking quite as rosy for the Xbox 360. With only seven games in the top 30, Microsoft will need to step it up during June’s E3. The high profile release of the Natal and the upcoming Halo: Reach should help with that.

Editors' Recommendations

Ryan Fleming
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…
2023 gaming report card: how did PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo score?
The Xbox Series X and PS5

It's been a long year filled with massive games, but we've finally reached the end of 2023. There's no question that this year will be remembered as one of the all-time best for new releases -- and one of the worst for game creators -- but it's been a whirlwind 12 months for the "big three" console makers. PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo all had pivotal years, though in entirely different ways. While the Nintendo Switch took a victory lap, the PS5 entered an experimental era. The Xbox Series X, on the other hand, finally delivered the suite of exclusives fans had been waiting for ... with mixed results.

To reflect on such an eventful year, we've decided to take on the role of teacher and hand each company a final grade for 2023. We took several factors into account here. Exclusive games are a major component of the final grade, naturally, but we also looked at how well each system maintained its wider ecosystem. That includes supporting services like PS Plus and Game Pass and evaluating how new hardware changed how we play.

Read more
The most underrated Final Fantasy game is coming to PS Plus this month
Garland towers over Jack, Ash, Jed, Sophia, and Neon in

Sony unveiled December 2023's new titles for PlayStation Plus Premium and the Extra Game Catalog, and it contains some heavy hitters. While the addition of the PlayStation 4 and PS5 versions of Grand Theft Auto V will probably be the biggest draw for most players, I want to shout out the addition of what might be the most underrated modern Final Fantasy game: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.

Released in March 2022, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is technically a prequel to the original Final Fantasy that reveals the origin story of that game's villain, Garland. In reality, Stranger of Paradise becomes a metacontextual analysis of the cyclical nature of the Final Fantasy series, serving as both a celebration and a biting critique of one of gaming's oldest RPG franchises. It also features one of the most bonkers video game endings I've ever experienced, so going through the adventure is worth it for that alone. Thankfully, it's enjoyable to play along the way as a more approachable class-based Soulslike from Team Ninja, the developer behind NioH and next year's Rise of the Ronin.

Read more
Play these 3DS and Wii U games before Nintendo shutters their online features
Captain Falcon in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

In April 2024, Nintendo will discontinue online services across its Wii U and 3DS consoles. While the eShops for both systems were shut down in March 2023, this will remove the online functionality of many apps and games, making gaming on either of these platforms an almost entirely offline experience. As a result, many games on those systems will lose important features and never be quite the same to play afterward. So, you'll need to get some gaming time in by next April if you want to refresh and preserve the memories of playing online on these two underdog Nintendo platforms.
While the aforementioned eShop closures make it impossible to buy new games digitally, plenty of games that you likely already own physical copies of or already had downloaded have online features that won't work properly come April 2024. As such, we recommend you play the following games online before the discontinuation of those services next year.
Kid Icarus Uprising

Kid Icarus Uprising is mostly remembered for its entertaining story, charismatic characters, and odd controls, but it also features a surprisingly fun multiplayer experience in Together Mode. In multiplayer, up to six players can use powerful weapons and abilities from the main adventure in one of two modes. Free-for-all lets players loose on a map, tasking them with racking up the most kills within a set time limit. Light vs. Dark is more complex, as two teams of three face off until enough players are defeated that one respawns as an angel; when that powered-up angel is killed, the match is over.
While far from balanced, Kid Icarus Uprising's Together Mode is one of the most entertaining competitive multiplayer experiences exclusive to 3DS. It can be played locally, using bots to fill in empty spots, so thankfully it won't stop working entirely. Still, it's not easy in 2023 to come across multiple people near you who have copies of Kid Icarus Uprising and want to play. As such, check out this cult classic 3DS game's hidden gem of a mode before praying that the rumors of a remaster eventually become true.
Nintendo Badge Arcade

Read more