5 Best-Selling Video Games of 2022 (So Far)

Wow, has 2022 ever been jam-packed with some awesome titles, and we're only two-thirds of the way there. Matter of fact, the last third appears to be the most significant as there are still a lot of anticipated game releases still on the horizon. Pushing past August, we can look forward to Overwatch 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and God of War Ragnarok. And that's just to name a few, but there's a handful of games that should make a run as the top sellers this year. With so many competitors, we want to find out what the five best-selling video games of 2022 are, so far.

While there are many games on this list that we're sure you've heard of because they've constantly been making headlines, there are also a couple of entries that have surprised they poll this high. Not because of their success or notoriety, but because of the sheer volume of sales they've accumulated so far this year. However, as it stands currently, these games are leading the pack as the best-selling video games in 2022. Curious about what games currently make up that list? Well, we've got them, and their success stories, all right here.

5. MLB: The Show 22

When most people think of sports games, they think of Madden or FIFA, not MLB: The Show 22. That is because with each annual release those two games consistently carry the sports genre in terms of most played and sales. However, it is time for them to make way because MLB: The Show 22 has been on a steady path since its April 5, 2022 release. Still, just under four months later, the game is clinging to the fifth spot amongst the best-selling video games of 2022.

An apparent reason as to why is the fact that it's the first time a game in the MLB series has been released for the Nintendo Switch. Which we can safely assume resulted in a boost in sales. However, many series fans believe MLB: The Show 22 is the best game in the long-running series to date. The gameplay has never been more refined, the Road to the Show has never been more immersive, and the game as a whole is a home run for fans and non-fans alike. However, with what we can see creeping on the horizon, don't expect MLB: The Show 22 to hold this position for much longer.

4. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West was one of the first big-name titles to launch this year back in February. The highly anticipated sequel outperformed Horizon Zero Dawn, the original entry, and subsequently raised the bar high for future releases. And, despite a slew of competition in the last six months, Horizon Forbidden West remains in the fourth spot, among the best-selling video games of 2022. However, sadly, Sony hasn't disclosed the game's sales just yet. But due note that it's holding this spot as a PlayStation exclusive, which is a remarkable feat.

There's no doubt that a large amount of Horizon Forbidden West's success in sales falls on its predecessor, Horizon Zero Dawn. The original game was a fantastic title that had many players excited for what was to come. However, no one expected Horizon Forbidden West to come as detailed and atmospheric as it did. This game is just a continuous spectacle of landscape photography, full of screenshots that you want to make your wallpaper. It begged you to explore its open world, and the more word spread about the game's immersive gameplay and atmospheric landscape, the more gamers we're seeing dive into it.

3. Pokémon Legends: Arceus

It's hard to imagine the Pokémon franchises ever dying out. Well, maybe that will come one day, but Pokémon Legends: Arceus is evidence that that day is nowhere near. This was another big-name title to release this year as it was prequal to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, one of the best-selling Pokémon video games of all time. With that in mind, there's no surprise there was a lot of hype for the game, as it takes you to the earliest origins of Pokémons' existence.

While this was an exciting narrative, that proved a solid story, there's one feature that was the highlight selling point for Pokémon Legends: Arceus. That is the fact that the game is partially open-world, which is not standard for Nintendo's beloved series. This elevated Pokémon hunting and becoming a Poké trainer to a whole new level of intrigue and exploration. One that many die-hard fans simply had to experience. In fact, as of March 2022, over 12 million copies of the game had been sold. And despite no further stats since that report, we can easily assume that number has risen significantly since then.

2. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was reluctantly released on all platforms, or we would have had a lot of adults throwing hissy fits. That's because many of our fondest gaming memories began with the early LEGO video games that sprung in the late 2000s and early 2010s. With titles like LEGO Harry Potter, LEGO Indiana Jones, and a handful of others. As a result, we can safely assume that the success of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is primarily due to past nostalgia.

However, the fact that it had sold 5 million copies by late June reflects the game's refinement. All nine episodes feature witty dialogue, amusing gameplay, and pretty much everything that gamers want in a LEGO game. And it has resulted in the second best-selling video game of 2022, which we expect to remain in the top five by the end of the year.

1. Elden Ring

Surprise, surprise, Elden Ring by FromSoftware and Bandai Namco is currently the best-selling video game of 2022. And unless God of War Ragnarok can come close to contesting, Elden Ring will most likely walk away with the title.

Elden Ring's original release date was February 25, 2022, and it only took four months, until the end of June, to sell over 16.6 million copies. With that, Elden Ring is now one of the top ten best-selling premium games in the US market of all time. These are staggering numbers in and of themselves, and we haven't seen anything like it since Minecraft or GTA V, both of which were released a decade ago.

Recently, Multiverse surpassed Elden Ring as the highest-grossing game of July. Which no other title had been able to do in the previous four months. As a result, there may be some indication that sales are slowing. However, “slowing down” is hardly appropriate to describe the sales decline for Elden Ring, as it's shockingly high in comparison to the norm.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with the top five? What other games do you feel are deserving of the best-selling video games of 2022? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!