What will be the most popular game in the world in 2023?

Gambling is very popular these days. The most popular games attract huge audiences of players of almost all ages. Until just a couple of decades ago, gaming was mainly seen as a pastime for nerds tapping away at a computer, but slowly the hobby has gone mainstream.

The answer to the question of what is the best game in the world, or even the most popular game in the world, is very hard to pin down. A qualitative assessment is difficult because every player has his or her own opinions. Popularity, on the other hand, is challenging to measure with a very reliable metric because the very concept of popularity is complex. Sales figures may be closer to the truth, but some popular games can reach a whole family of people even when bought in a single household.

In this article, we've collected five undeniably popular games, each of which can be easily placed in the category of the world's most popular games. For each of these games, we list not only these arguments, but also a number of other interesting facts. Our aim is to provide our readers with lots of exciting new information, as well as some good and well-loved games to discover. So let's make this article as enjoyable as possible for both video game enthusiasts and those looking for new hobbies!

But now: the best games in Finland, please!

The 5 most popular games in Finland

Here are five games that are extremely popular in their own genre. Together, we think these games form a coherent answer to the question of what is the most popular game in the world. The question of which is the best game in the world is then more of an individual question.

Under the following sub-headings, we will delve deeper into each of these popular games!

#1 Fortnite

The popularity of Fortnite, made by Epic Games, is undeniable. However, we were a little conflicted as to whether to put this particular shooter at the top of our list or League of Legends. After much deliberation, however, we decided to give the top spot to Fortnite, which undeniably deserves it for economic reasons alone.

At the time of writing, Fortnite had already generated a staggering $5.1 billion worth of cash for its owner Epic Games. The game's overwhelming popularity is reflected in the fact that it is still being played enthusiastically, even though the first versions were released in 2017. In other words, the survival game has been surfing the internet for more than six years now, with no signs of slowing down. Only the most popular online games are capable of such a feat.

The PEGI age limit for Fortnite is 12 years, but in Finland, too, it is played to some extent even at lower primary school levels - whether that is a good thing or not. Although the game simulates a kind of exaggerated war, the violence is more cartoonish than realistic. Characters don't bleed, they disappear into thin air.

Fortnite has an estimated 78.3 million players worldwide. The game is available on virtually all modern platforms: PC, Playstation, Xbox, Switch and mobile. Rarely, even players on different platforms can play together, which has certainly contributed to Fortnite's popularity.

#2 League of Legends

According to the statistics, League of Legends manages to wash even Fortnite in terms of player numbers with no trouble at all. Riot Games' game, also known as LoLi, has up to 115 million players worldwide.

Although the League of Legends star took off quite early on, it also has a long and honourable history. LoL was launched in 2009, which means it has been on the market much longer than Fortnite. In terms of revenue, however, it is less than half of Epic Games' figures, as League of Legends is estimated to have generated 'only' $2.1 billion.

League of Legends was once inspired by Warcraft III's Defense of the Ancients map. Since its inception, it has been a free-to-play game that has monetised itself by selling customisable characters to players.

League of Legends is only available on PC, which may help explain why Fortnite, for example, is slightly more popular.

#3 Minecraft

Minecraft also fits easily into the top computer games category. This time, it is not a free game either: even today, Minecraft still costs around €20 on every platform, but has a hefty 91 million players across a wide range of platforms.

Minecraft originated in our western neighbourhood. It is produced by Mojang Studios. The game itself came out back in 2011, but Mojang was acquired by Microsoft in a historic $2.5 billion acquisition in 2014.

Minecraft is by far the best-selling game. Copies have changed hands as many as 238 million times in the last 12 years.

To this day, Minecraft continues to release new sequels and add-ons. The game's fun and unique look and simple mechanics appeal not only to adults, but also to children and young people with a wide range of peripherals and soft toys.

#4 Starburst

The fourth game on our list makes a difference to the video games on the list. Starburst, from the Swedish game manufacturer NetEnt, is not a PC or console game, but a game in the highly competitive genre of casino slots.

Starburst was released in 2013, when online casinos were starting to become very popular in our country. It could even be said that Starburst was the most popular game in Finnish casinos for a long time. Only Gonzo's Quest and Twin Spin, published by the same manufacturer, even came close.

The absolute popularity of Starburst is almost impossible to measure. NetEnt has hardly ever published information on how many players have played the game or how much money it has made. What we do know, however, is that this space slot game of all time was for a long time the most popular game in the casino world, including among casino operators. At one time, every casino wanted to give out free spins on Starburst and nothing else.

In recent years, Starburst has also had a sequel called Starburst XXXtreme. Chipz experiences are also available for this game. In practice, however, Starburst XXXtreme is pretty much the same game with just a few small new features and changes.

#5 Grand Theft Auto

Last on our list is Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto game series, which has a much controversial reputation. Although many people around the world know this series better by its shorter name, GTA.

The first installment of the GTA series was originally released in 1997. At that time, the game looked very different from what it does today. It was played from a high, top-down perspective, whereas the more recent games in the series have been third-person, open-world 3D creations.

Each game in the GTA series has managed to further increase the buzz and phenomenon around the series. The most prolific has been the latest version, Grand Theft Auto V, which has raked in a staggering $6 billion. Sales figures for this title have also rocketed to 140 million units. In fact, GTA V is still going for the hot rocks.

Grand Theft Auto V appeals to gamers in particular because of its versatility, its inventive mini-games and its huge world. Even many critics consider GTA V to be the best game in the world for these reasons.

Unfortunately, despite its undeniably high quality, most of the media coverage that GTA receives revolves around the series' criminal themes and violence.

Game genres and platforms to suit all tastes

Over time, gaming has become hugely diverse. The most popular video games are not even comparable because they are so different. For example, Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto, which are on our list, are already very different by definition. Both the angle of view and the objectives of the games are very different. On the other hand, they both share the same so-called sandbox spirit and open-world charm.

Perhaps one could say that most of the most popular online games are, after all, more alike than different. In general, they offer a wide and free range of things to do, which feeds players' imagination and keeps them coming back again and again.

So far, we have excluded from our list such popular game types in Finland as platform games, problem-solving (puzzle) games, car games, sports games, in-depth role-playing games and various building games. We also left Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog both just outside our top five.

There are also a wide range of gaming devices. Some of us prefer to play on consoles, while others prefer to play on computers or mobile devices. Again, there are many ways to play, and the best games in the world can be any kind, depending on the player!

Factors influencing the evaluation of games

Finally, we've compiled a list of factors that influence which games qualify for the Best Games in Finland list:

1. The game's sales or player numbers
2. Game revenue
3. The age and longevity of the game
4. Brand strength and potential visibility outside the gaming world
5. Importance of the game as a representative and messenger of its genre

By thinking objectively about these issues, you can create your own top lists and assess the role of different games in the world's best games comparison!