The Best Selling Video Games of 2010

As the video game industry gets set to show off the games that will dominate the charts in the back half of 2010 and early 2011, what better time to see what has been driving sales for the first half of the year?

After a disappointing 2009, software sales are down 8 percent so far this year, according to the most recent numbers from the NPD Group, which tracks game sales. That’s a shortfall of over $500 million. The numbers should begin to rebound in the coming months – but so far, 2010 hasn’t been too encouraging.

A look at the top 10 follows, based upon US sales. But with a strong title catalog gearing up for the end of the year, expect a much different list by the end of the year.

By Chris Morris, Special to CNBC.com
Posted 10 June 2010

Publisher: Nintendo
Released: March 2010

Fourteen years after its launch, the Pokemon franchise is as strong as ever. This version, released simultaneously with the SoulSilver version, comes bundled with a pedometer that ‘holds’ a Pokemon from the game that gets stronger as you carry it with you.

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: January 2010

The second part of this action role-playing trilogy is among the most favorably reviewed titles on the Xbox 360. Built by developer Bioware, who has a reputation for finely crafted games, the game has sold over 1.6 million copies.

Publisher: Nintendo
Released: July 2009

“Wii Sports,” which was bundled with the Wii, is now the best selling games of all time, so it makes sense that a sequel would do well. To ensure this title’s success, Nintendo bundled it with an add-on for the Wii controller that results in more precise control. And as of early May, the company included a copy of the game with every new Wii sold.

Publisher: Nintendo
Released: March 2010

Like the HeartGold version, this Pokemon game is one of the highest rated titles of all time for the Nintendo DS. Worldwide, the pair have sold 8.4 million copies. The only difference between the games, incidentally, is the Pokemon included.

Publisher: Sony
Released: March 2010

Brutal and bloody, the latest entry in this PlayStation exclusive franchise tells the ongoing tale of Kratos, a Spartan warrior who takes on the Greek gods. This concluding chapter of the game’s first trilogy is arguably the title that best demonstrates the graphical prowess of the PS3.

Publisher: Nintendo
Released: October 2009

An enhanced version of 2008’s “Wii Fit,” this fitness video game offers 21 additional activities and games as well as a calorie burning counter. Like its predecessor, it ships with the Wii Fit balance board. It also was recently endorsed by the American Heart Association as a way to helping people take initial steps towards making exercise a part of their daily routine.

Publisher: Square Enix
Released: March 2010

Long in development, the latest installment in this long-running role-playing series has proven to be its best selling, with over 5.5 million copies selling worldwide. The vast majority of those were sold in Japan, where 1 million copies were grabbed by consumers on its first day.

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: March 2010

Even EA was a little surprised by the success of this first-person shooter. By mid-May, the game had sold over 4 million copies worldwide and was directly responsible for EA’s higher than expected earnings in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

Publisher: Activision
Released: November 2009

Given that it was last year’s best selling game, it’s not too surprising to see “Modern Warfare 2” high on this year’s list. The game has sold over 14 million copies worldwide and is now the third-best selling game of all time in the U.S.

Publisher: Nintendo
Released: November 2009

Some classics never get old. This update of the classic Mario Bros. title for the industry’s best selling console was the first to let players play together. It has sold 14.7 million copies worldwide and is the Wii’s second-best selling Mario title (behind “Mario Kart”).