After celebrating the new year, making good resolutions for 2022 and saying goodbye to a difficult year 2021 in more ways than one (hoping that this one goes for the better), it's time to take an overview of the top 5 best-selling video games (both in physical and digital versions) by platform in 2021, which includes a few surprises!
For the sake of completeness, we have cross-checked various sources such as those of official online stores, such as the PS Store or the Nintendo eShop, the recognized NPD group in this area, Amazon or even Steam. We have also distinguished, for PlayStation and Xbox, between game sales on older generation consoles on the one hand, and on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on the other. A choice particularly motivated by the difficulty of acquiring these, even one after their release, as well as a different catalog according to certain purely new generation exclusives. Without further ado, here are the top 5 best-selling games by platform in 2021!
Steam: unexpected Platinum discs
With the punctuality of a watchmaker, Valve recently shared, as it does every year, the top 100 bestsellers on its platform. While there have been a few changes between the publication of this ranking and the time of this writing, it's worth noting a few honorable mentions before revealing the top 5.
As usual, Platinum-ranked games represent the ultimate sales of the year on Steam, and we find unexpected titles like Apex Legends, Naraka: Bladepoint or Battlefield 2042, despite a very controversial launch. As for the top 5 sales on Steam in 2021, here are the lucky (and for some very surprising) elected ones:
- 1ère place : Rainbow Six: Siege ;
- 2nd place: Valheim;
- 3rd place: DOTA 2;
- 4e place : New World ;
- 5e place : Grand Theft Auto V.
PS4: exclusives were not popular in 2021
Despite a few solid exclusives aimed at delivering a sweet swansong to Sony's incredibly successful console, that's not what's been raining and shines for the PS4 in 2021. Here's hoping 2022 can rectify that. shooting with highly anticipated juggernauts like Horizon: Forbidden West or God of War: Ragnarök.
We still find some exceptional honorable mentions like The Last of Us Part II or Marvel's Spider-Man, which still mark the PS4 with their magnificent exclusive imprint, but just miss the podium. Here are the top 5 best-selling games on Sony's old-generation console in 2021:
- 1ère place : NBA 2K22 ;
- 2nde place : Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales ;
- 3e place : Far Cry 6 ;
- 4e place : Grand Theft Auto V ;
- 5th place: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.
PS5: a portal between generations
As mentioned earlier, PS5 shortages have hurt solid next-gen exclusives such as Demon's Souls Remake, Deathloop, and Returnal, which flirt or barely manage to crack the top 10 in sales.
Despite everything, some exclusives have managed to hold their own, as well as one of Capcom's most recent titles which has been a resounding success, and more particularly on PS5, as evidenced by this ranking:
- 1ère place : FIFA 22 ;
- 2nde place : Resident Evil Village ;
- 3e place : Far Cry 6 ;
- 4e place : Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut ;
- 5e place : Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
Xbox One: exclusives that have done Microsoft good
Unlike Sony, which kept its biggest cartridges for 2022, Microsoft drew solid exclusives at the end of 2021, which naturally found their place in the top 5 of sales:
- 1ère place : Halo Infinite ;
- 2nde place : NBA 2K 22 ;
- 3rd place: Forza Horizon 5;
- 4th place: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy;
- 5e place : Far Cry 6.
Xbox Series X|S: cross-platform in the spotlight
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We find more or less the same ranking for Microsoft's new generation consoles, the main reason being that the exclusives of the gaming branch of the Redmond firm have decided in 2021 to be cross-platform. It remains to be seen what will happen in 2022 and beyond, since Microsoft intends to take the opportunity to release solid next-gen console exclusives such as Hellblade II, Redfall or Starfield.
- 1ère place : Halo Infinite ;
- 2nd place: Forza Horizon 5;
- 3th place: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy;
- 4e place : Battlefield 2042 ;
- 5e place : Call of Duty: Vanguard.
Nintendo Switch: the hybrid console relies on its achievements
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If the Nintendo Switch has undoubtedly been the queen of consoles in this dark climate of health crisis, it is clear that few remarkable titles were released at the end of 2021, with the exception of the excellent Metroid Dread, which unfortunately does not appear on the podium. Like Sony, Big N is keeping its biggest exclusives for 2022 and beyond, obviously with Bayonetta 3 or Breath of the Wild 2 in mind.
A top 5 of 2021 sales which is therefore based on its achievements, but of course proving to be particularly solid for Nintendo's hybrid console:
- 1ère place : Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ;
- 2nde place : Animal Crossing: New Horizons ;
- 3e place : Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ;
- 4e place : The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild ;
- 5th place: Pokémon: Sword & Shield.
A 2022 vintage that promises to be excellent
So concludes the top 5 best-selling games by platform in 2021, with some unexpected results due to a year that has slowed down many sectors, especially video games. Barring numerous untimely postponements this year, 2022 promises to be an excellent year for our favorite pastime. See you in a year to see if this will be reflected in the top 5 best selling games in 2022!
And we take this opportunity to wish you, dear readers, a happy video game year, among other things!
