Team GNI
From Pokémon to Call of Duty, Gaming’s Evolution Captivates Millions
MUMBAI — For nearly a quarter-century, video games have shaped entertainment, technology, and culture, with each year crowning new champions that capture players’ hearts and wallets. From Pokémon’s handheld dominance in 2000 to Call of Duty’s 2024 comeback, the top 10 trending games annually reflect shifting tastes, technological leaps, and India’s growing role in the $4.5 billion mobile gaming market. Drawing on sales data, player engagement, and cultural impact, here’s a look at the titles that defined gaming from 2000 to 2024.
2000: Pokémon Rules Handhelds
The PlayStation 2 debuted, but Nintendo’s Game Boy Color reigned. Pokémon Gold/Silver sold over 7 million units in the U.S., per The NPD Group.
- Pokémon Gold/Silver (Game Boy Color)
- Pokémon Stadium (N64)
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64)
- Pokémon Yellow (Game Boy Color)
- Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (PS1)
- Final Fantasy IX (PS1)
- Super Smash Bros. (N64)
- Perfect Dark (N64)
- Paper Mario (N64) “Pokémon was unstoppable,” said gaming historian Dr. Vikram Shah. “It turned kids into collectors and traders.”
2001: PS2 Takes Off
Madden NFL 2002 topped U.S. charts, but Grand Theft Auto III’s late release redefined gaming.
- Madden NFL 2002 (PS2, PS1)
- Pokémon Crystal (Game Boy Color)
- Grand Theft Auto III (PS2)
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (PS2, PS1)
- Final Fantasy Chronicles (PS1)
- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GameCube)
- Pokémon Stadium 2 (N64)
- Metal Gear Solid 2 (PS2)
- Luigi’s Mansion (GameCube)
- Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox) “GTA III showed games could tell adult stories,” noted analyst Priya Sharma.
2002: Vice City’s Crime Spree
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City sold 8 million copies, per NPD, dominating the PS2 era.
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PS2)
- Madden NFL 2003 (PS2)
- Medal of Honor: Frontline (PS2)
- Spider-Man: The Movie (PS2)
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 (PS2)
- Super Mario Sunshine (GameCube)
- Metroid Prime (GameCube)
- Resident Evil Zero (GameCube)
- Kingdom Hearts (PS2)
- Battlefield 1942 (PC)
2003: Pokémon Returns
Madden NFL 2004 led, but Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire revived Nintendo’s grip.
- Madden NFL 2004 (PS2)
- Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire (GBA)
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)
- GTA III/Vice City Double Pack (PS2)
- Need for Speed: Underground (PS2)
- Tony Hawk’s Underground (PS2)
- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (GBA)
- Enter the Matrix (PS2)
- Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (PS2)
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)
2004: San Andreas Shatters Records
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas moved 12 million units globally by year-end.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)
- Madden NFL 2005 (PS2)
- Halo 2 (Xbox)
- ESPN NFL 2K5 (PS2, Xbox)
- Need for Speed: Underground 2 (PS2)
- Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen (GBA)
- Spider-Man 2 (PS2)
- Burnout 3: Takedown (PS2, Xbox)
- Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 (PS2)
- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (GameCube)
2005: Horror Reborn
Madden NFL 06 led, while Resident Evil 4 redefined survival horror.
- Madden NFL 06 (PS2)
- Pokémon Emerald (GBA)
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PSP)
- Star Wars: Battlefront II (PS2)
- Resident Evil 4 (GameCube, PS2)
- Battlefield 2 (PC)
- Need for Speed: Most Wanted (PS2)
- Forza Motorsport (Xbox)
- Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
- Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (Xbox)
2006: Wii’s Revolution
Wii Sports became a cultural phenomenon, though Madden NFL 07 topped sales.
- Madden NFL 07 (PS2)
- Wii Sports (Wii)
- New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
- Gears of War (Xbox 360)
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii, GameCube)
- Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (DS)
- Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
- Brain Age (DS)
- Guitar Hero II (PS2)
- Tony Hawk’s Project 8 (PS2)
2007: Halo’s Peak
Halo 3 sold 4.2 million U.S. copies, per NPD, with Call of Duty rising.
- Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
- Wii Play (Wii)
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Madden NFL 08 (PS2)
- Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (DS)
- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
- BioShock (Xbox 360, PC)
- Assassin’s Creed (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Rock Band (PS3, Xbox 360)
- Mass Effect (Xbox 360)
2008: Casual Gaming Soars
Wii Play edged out competitors, with GTA IV pushing boundaries.
- Wii Play (Wii)
- Madden NFL 09 (PS2)
- Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Wii Fit (Wii)
- Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
- Call of Duty: World at War (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360)
- Pokémon Platinum (DS)
- Left 4 Dead (Xbox 360, PC)
2009: Modern Warfare Dominates
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 sold 6 million U.S. copies in two months.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Wii Sports Resort (Wii)
- Madden NFL 10 (PS3)
- Wii Fit Plus (Wii)
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
- Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver (DS)
- Assassin’s Creed II (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
- Batman: Arkham Asylum (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Dragon Age: Origins (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
2010: Black Ops Breaks Records
Call of Duty: Black Ops moved 12 million units globally by year-end.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Madden NFL 11 (PS3)
- Halo: Reach (Xbox 360)
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
- Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Wii Party (Wii)
- Pokémon Black/White (DS)
- Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Just Dance 2 (Wii)
- Mass Effect 2 (Xbox 360, PC)
2011: Skyrim’s Saga Begins
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 led, but Skyrim became a legend.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Xbox 360, PS3)
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
- Madden NFL 12 (PS3)
- Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
- Batman: Arkham City (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Just Dance 3 (Wii)
- Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360)
- Portal 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
- Pokémon Black/White (DS)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
2012: Black Ops II Strikes
Call of Duty: Black Ops II topped charts, with Halo 4 shining.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Madden NFL 13 (PS3)
- Halo 4 (Xbox 360)
- Assassin’s Creed III (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Pokémon Black 2/White 2 (DS)
- Borderlands 2 (Xbox 360, PS3)
- New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U)
- NBA 2K13 (Xbox 360, PS3)
- FIFA Soccer 13 (PS3)
- Far Cry 3 (Xbox 360, PS3)
2013: GTA V Redefines Scale
Grand Theft Auto V sold 32.5 million units globally by early 2014.
- Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Call of Duty: Ghosts (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Madden NFL 25 (PS3)
- Pokémon X/Y (3DS)
- Battlefield 4 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
- The Last of Us (PS3)
- BioShock Infinite (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (PS3, Xbox 360)
- NBA 2K14 (PS3)
- Tomb Raider (Xbox 360, PS3)
2014: Next-Gen Takes Hold
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare led in a transition year.
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (PS4, Xbox One)
- Madden NFL 15 (PS4)
- Destiny (PS4, Xbox One)
- Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, Xbox One)
- Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS (Wii U, 3DS)
- Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire (3DS)
- FIFA 15 (PS4)
- Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)
- Dragon Age: Inquisition (PS4, Xbox One)
2015: Fallout’s Wasteland Calls
Call of Duty: Black Ops III topped, with Fallout 4 close behind.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III (PS4, Xbox One)
- Madden NFL 16 (PS4)
- Star Wars: Battlefront (PS4, Xbox One)
- Fallout 4 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
- Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, Xbox One)
- FIFA 16 (PS4)
- NBA 2K16 (PS4)
- Super Mario Maker (Wii U)
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
- Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4, Xbox One)
2016: Overwatch Breaks Out
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare led despite controversy.
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (PS4, Xbox One)
- Battlefield 1 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
- Pokémon Sun/Moon (3DS)
- Madden NFL 17 (PS4)
- NBA 2K17 (PS4)
- Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, Xbox One)
- Overwatch (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
- FIFA 17 (PS4)
- Tom Clancy’s The Division (PS4, Xbox One)
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (PS4)
2017: Zelda’s Triumph
Call of Duty: WWII led, but Zelda: Breath of the Wild redefined gaming.
- Call of Duty: WWII (PS4, Xbox One)
- Destiny 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
- NBA 2K18 (PS4)
- Madden NFL 18 (PS4)
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch, Wii U)
- Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, Xbox One)
- Pokémon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon (3DS)
- Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)
- Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)
- FIFA 18 (PS4)
2018: Red Dead’s Redemption
Red Dead Redemption 2 sold 17 million units in weeks.
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4, Xbox One)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (PS4, Xbox One)
- NBA 2K19 (PS4)
- Madden NFL 19 (PS4)
- Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!/Eevee! (Switch)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man (PS4)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)
- Fortnite (Multiplatform)
- God of War (PS4)
- FIFA 19 (PS4)
2019: Modern Warfare Reboots
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare revitalized the series.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (PS4, Xbox One)
- NBA 2K20 (PS4)
- Madden NFL 20 (PS4)
- Pokémon Sword/Shield (Switch)
- Anthem (PS4, Xbox One)
- Borderlands 3 (PS4, Xbox One)
- Mortal Kombat 11 (PS4)
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PS4, Xbox One)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)
- Kingdom Hearts III (PS4, Xbox One)
2020: Animal Crossing’s Escape
Animal Crossing: New Horizons sold 31 million units globally.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (PS4, Xbox One)
- The Last of Us Part II (PS4)
- Madden NFL 21 (PS4)
- Pokémon Sword/Shield (Switch)
- Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4)
- Ghost of Tsushima (PS4)
- Marvel’s Avengers (PS4, Xbox One)
- Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
- Among Us (Multiplatform)
2021: Call of Duty Holds Strong
Call of Duty: Vanguard led in a year of remakes.
- Call of Duty: Vanguard (PS4, PS5, Xbox)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (PS4)
- Madden NFL 22 (PS4)
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl (Switch)
- Resident Evil Village (PS5)
- MLB The Show 21 (PS4, Xbox)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS4, PS5)
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5)
- FIFA 22 (PS4)
2022: Elden Ring’s Glory
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II set records, but Elden Ring won hearts.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (PS4, PS5, Xbox)
- Elden Ring (PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC)
- Madden NFL 23 (PS4)
- God of War Ragnarök (PS4, PS5)
- Pokémon Scarlet/Violet (Switch)
- FIFA 23 (PS4)
- NBA 2K23 (PS4)
- Horizon Forbidden West (PS4, PS5)
- MLB The Show 22 (PS4, Xbox, Switch)
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)
2023: Hogwarts’ Magic
Hogwarts Legacy sold 15 million units, per Warner Bros.
- Hogwarts Legacy (PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (PS4, PS5, Xbox)
- Madden NFL 24 (PS4)
- Diablo IV (PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC)
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (PS5, Xbox Series X)
- Resident Evil 4 (PS4, PS5, Xbox)
- Pokémon Scarlet/Violet (Switch)
- Final Fantasy XVI (PS5)
- Dead Island 2 (PS4, Xbox, PC)
2024: Black Ops Roars Back
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 led NPD’s charts, with indies shining.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (PS4, PS5, Xbox)
- Helldivers 2 (PS5, PC)
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC)
- Astro Bot (PS5)
- Balatro (Multiplatform)
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PS5)
- Dragon’s Dogma 2 (PS5, Xbox, PC)
- Fortnite (Multiplatform)
- Valorant (PC, consoles)
- Animal Well (Switch, PS5, PC) “Indies like Balatro show gaming’s diversity,” said Animesh Agarwal of S8UL Esports.
India’s Mobile Surge
While U.S. console and PC games dominate these lists, India’s mobile gaming market—valued at $4.5 billion in 2025—saw BGMI and Free Fire Max trend locally, with over 100 million downloads each, per Lumikai. Streaming and esports amplified their reach, though global sales data often overlooks mobile.
The journey from Pokémon to Black Ops 6 mirrors gaming’s evolution: from cartridges to cloud, solo to social. As India’s gamers—over 590 million strong—embrace mobile and esports, the next decade promises even bigger battles, blockbusters, and breakthroughs.
Source: The NPD Group Annual Reports via Circana, Lumikai India Gaming Report 2024, Interview with Animesh Agarwal, Times of India Technology Desk
