2007 in video games


2007 saw many new installments in established video game franchises, such as Madden NFL 08, NBA Live 08, NBA 2K8, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008, Super Mario Galaxy, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Halo 3, God of War II, Team Fortress 2, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, and Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. New intellectual properties included Assassin's Creed, BioShock, Crackdown, Crysis, Mass Effect, Portal, Rock Band, Skate, The Darkness, The Witcher, and Uncharted.
The year has been retrospectively considered one of the best and most influential in video game history due to the release of numerous critically acclaimed, commercially successful and influential titles across all platforms and genres at the time and remarked the birth of new video game franchises. The year's best-selling video game console was the Nintendo DS. The year's most critically acclaimed title was Super Mario Galaxy, which is ranked Metacritic's fifth highest-scoring game of all time. The year's best-selling home video game worldwide was Wii Sports for the Wii, and other critically acclaimed titles such as BioShock, The Orange Box, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Halo 3.

Legend

Hardware releases

Hardware sales data

Worldwide

The following are the best-selling games of 2007 in terms of worldwide retail sales.
RankTitleSalesPlatformPublisherGenre
1Wii Sports15,246,786WiiNintendoSports
2Pokémon Diamond / Pearl9,867,185DSNintendo, Pokémon CompanyRPG
3Halo 38,100,000X360Microsoft Game StudiosFPS
4Wii Play7,316,815WiiNintendoParty
5Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare7,000,000PS3 / X360 / WINActivisionFPS
6FIFA 086,550,000EA SportsSports
7Pro Evolution Soccer 20086,370,000KonamiSports
8Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!6,091,362DSNintendoEdutainment
9Super Mario Galaxy5,190,000WiiNintendoPlatformer
10Party 8">List of party video games">Party 84,350,000WiiNintendoParty

Japan

PlaceTitleConsoleUnits sold
1Wii SportsWii1,911,520
2Monster Hunter Portable 2PSP1,489,898
3Wii PlayWii1,487,484
4Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of DarknessDS1,256,516
5Mario Party DSDS1,232,644
6New Super Mario Bros.DS1,176,939
7[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl|Pokémon Diamond and Pearl]DS1,094,389
8Mario Party 8Wii1,053,934
9Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the ChosenDS1,052,827
10Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!DS1,033,933

United States

  • United States sales data based on figures from the NPD Group
PlaceTitleConsoleUnits sold
1Halo 3X3604.82 million
2Wii PlayWii4.12 million
3Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareX3603.04 million
4Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock with guitarPS22.72 million
5Super Mario GalaxyWii2.52 million
6Pokémon DiamondDS2.48 million
7Madden NFL 08PS21.90 million
8Guitar Hero II with guitarPS21.89 million
9Assassin's CreedX3601.87 million
10Mario Party 8Wii1.82 million

United Kingdom

PlaceTitlePublisherUnits sold
1FIFA 08Electronic Arts1,391,435
2Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old is Your Brain?Nintendo1,016,558
3Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareActivision935,044
4Pro Evolution Soccer 2008Konami787,382
5More Brain Training from Dr KawashimaNintendo760,225
6Halo 3Microsoft735,176
7The Simpsons GameElectronic Arts734,595
8Wii PlayNintendo688,002
9Assassin's CreedUbisoft670,286
10WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008THQ563,121

Highest selling video games per platform (by region)

North America

  • Based on figures from the NPD Group via IGN; the games' publishers are listed in brackets
PlaceDSPCPS2PS3PSPWiiX360
1Pokémon Diamond
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
Madden NFL 08
Madden NFL 08
MLB 07: The Show
Wii Play
Halo 3
2Pokémon Pearl
The Sims 2: Seasons
God of War II
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Madden NFL 08
Mario Party 8
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
3The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Assassin's Creed
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Super Mario Galaxy
Guitar Hero II
4Diddy Kong Racing
The Sims 2: Bon Voyage
Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s
MotorStorm
Transformers: The Game
Super Paper Mario
Madden NFL 08
5Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!
Supreme Commander
MLB 07: The Show
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Assassin's Creed
6Spectrobes
The [Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar]
Spider-Man 3
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas
300: March to Glory
WarioWare: Smooth Moves
BioShock
7High School Musical: Makin' the Cut!
The Orange Box
NCAA Football 08
NCAA Football 08
Call of Duty: Roads to Victory
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Crackdown
8MySims
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Transformers: The Game
Heavenly Sword
Major League Baseball 2K7
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
9Paws and Claws: Pet Vet
BioShock
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Ninja Gaiden Sigma
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas
Mario Strikers Charged
Tom Clancy's [Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2]
10Mario Party DS
The Sims 2: H&M Fashion Stuff
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Ghost Rider
Pokémon Battle Revolution
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition

United Kingdom

  • Based on figures from Chart-Track; the games' publishers are listed in brackets
PlaceDSPS2PS3PSPWiiX360
1Dr Kawashima's Brain Training:
How Old is Your Brain?

FIFA 08
Resistance: Fall of Man
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Wii Play
Halo 3
2More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
MotorStorm
FIFA 08
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
3New Super Mario Bros.
The Simpsons Game
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Sega Mega Drive Collection
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree
Assassin's Creed
4Cooking Mama
Final Fantasy XII
FIFA 08
Pro Evolution Soccer 6
Super Mario Galaxy
Forza Motorsport 2
5Big Brain Academy
High School Musical: Sing It!
Assassin's Creed
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Mario Party 8
FIFA 08
6Pokémon Diamond
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
Sonic Rivals
WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
742 All-Time Classics
Need for Speed: ProStreet
Formula One Championship Edition
The Simpsons Game
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Crackdown
8Nintendogs: Labrador & Friends
Spider-Man 3
Need for Speed: ProStreet
FIFA 07
Mario Strikers Charged Football
Gears of War
9Sonic Rush
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition
Sonic and the Secret Rings
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
10Zoo Tycoon DS
Transformers: The Game
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008
Need for Speed: Carbon
Resident Evil 4
BioShock

All time video game sales

United States

Note: This list only includes games that were released after NPD started tracking video game sales data in 1995.
PlaceTitleUnits sold
1Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas8.6 million
2Madden NFL 077.4 million
3Grand Theft Auto: Vice City6.8 million
4Madden NFL 066.5 million
5Halo 26.3 million
6Namco Museum6.2 million
7Super Mario 646.0 million
8Madden NFL 20055.9 million
9Grand Theft Auto III5.7 million
10Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 25.3 million

Major awards

Critically acclaimed titles

and GameRankings are aggregators of video game journalism reviews.
GamePublisherRelease DatePlatformMC scoreGR score
Super Mario GalaxyNintendoNovember 1, 2007Wii97/10097.64%
The Orange BoxValveOctober 10, 2007X36096/10096.36%
The Orange BoxValveOctober 10, 2007WIN96/10095.88%
BioShock2K GamesAugust 21, 2007X36096/10095.07%
BioShock2K GamesAugust 21, 2007WIN96/10094.58%
Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareActivisionNovember 5, 2007X36094/10094.16%
Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareActivisionNovember 5, 2007PS394/10093.54%
Halo 3Microsoft Game StudiosSeptember 25, 2007X36094/10093.53%
The Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionBethesda SoftworksMarch 20, 2007PS393/10092.98%
God of War IISony Computer EntertainmentMarch 13, 2007PS293/10092.68%
Galactic Civilizations II: Dark AvatarStardockFebruary 8, 2007WIN91/10092.61%
Team Fortress 2ValveOctober 10, 2007WIN92/10092.6%
Guitar Hero IIActivisionApril 3, 2007X36092/10092.3%
Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareActivisionNovember 5, 2007WIN92/10092.29%
Rock BandMTV GamesNovember 20, 2007X36092/10091.97%
Rock BandMTV GamesNovember 20, 2007PS392/10091.23%
Resident Evil 4: Wii EditionCapcomMay 31, 2007Wii91/10091.59%
World of Warcraft: The Burning CrusadeBlizzard EntertainmentJanuary 16, 2007WIN91/10091.48%
Mass EffectMicrosoft Game StudiosNovember 20, 2007X36091/10091.24%
CrysisElectronic ArtsNovember 13, 2007WIN91/10090.23%
Half-Life 2: Episode TwoValveOctober 10, 2007WIN90/10090.68%
Metroid Prime 3: CorruptionNintendoAugust 27, 2007Wii90/10090.23%
Forza Motorsport 2Microsoft Game StudiosMay 29, 2007X36090/10089.98%
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom HourglassNintendoJune 23, 2007DS90/10088.82%
PortalValveOctober 10, 2007WIN90/10088.81%
Uncharted: Drake's FortuneSony Computer EntertainmentNovember 20, 2007PS388/10089.67%
Castlevania: Symphony of the NightKonamiMarch 21, 2007X36089/10089.58%
Virtua Fighter 5 OnlineSegaOctober 26, 2007X36089/10089.37%
World in ConflictVivendi GamesSeptember 18, 2007WIN89/10089.16%
The Orange BoxValveDecember 11, 2007PS389/10088.97%
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of DestructionSony Computer EntertainmentOctober 23, 2007PS389/10088.74%
Persona 3 FESAtlusApril 19, 2007PS289/10087.8%
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the LionsSquare EnixMay 10, 2007PSP88/10088.26%
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the WarlordsD3 PublisherOctober 10, 2007X36087/10088.14%
Sam & Max Save the WorldTelltale GamesAugust 7, 2007WINN/A88.06%
The World Ends with YouSquare EnixJuly 27, 2007DS88/10087.99%
Ninja Gaiden SigmaTecmoJune 14, 2007PS388/10086.72%
The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering IslesBethesda SoftworksOctober 16, 2007X36086/10087.62%
Hitman TrilogyIO InteractiveJune 19, 2007PS287.56%

Video game-based film and television releases

Events

DateEvent
March 14Microsoft announces Games for Windows – Live, a version of Xbox Live for the Windows platform. The service launched on May 8.
March 19Justin.tv, a website designed specially for streaming videogames, is launched.
March 27Microsoft announced the Xbox 360 Elite. The revision comes with a bigger hard drive and the ability to output HDMI.
April 11Sony announces that they are discontinuing the 20 GB PlayStation 3 SKU, one of two SKUs available at the systems launch, leaving only the 60 GB SKU available for consumer purchase.
June 27Nintendo announces WiiWare, a service similar to Xbox Live Arcade, that allows developers to release original downloadable games for the Wii. Previously the only downloadable games available on the Wii had been limited to its Virtual Console service.
July 5After an outpouring of complaints over faulty Xbox 360 hardware, Microsoft announces an extension for the Xbox 360's warranty that applies retroactively to all consumers who have purchased the console since launch.
July 11–13The 11th E3 is held at several hotels and the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, United States.
August 23–26The Leipzig Games Developers Convention in Leipzig, Germany.
August 24–26Penny Arcade Expo at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Washington, United States.
August 29Nokia reveals plans to revive its failing N-Gage brand in November; however, this time the line will not be a console, but rather a service players can download onto Nokia phones and PCs.
September 20–23Tokyo Game Show at the Makuhari Messe International Convention complex in Mihama-ku, Chiba, Japan.
September 26Activision buys Bizarre Creations, developer of the Project Gotham Racing series.
September 28–30Digital Life at New York's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, New York, United States.
October 5Bungie announces its split with Microsoft to become an independent studio.
October 11Electronic Arts announces plans to buy VG Holding Corp., which owns both Pandemic Studios and BioWare, effectively making both companies subsidiaries.
October 18–20E for All Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, United States.
November 2–4Videogames Expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
November 6EA closes down its EA Chicago studios.
November 27–28Montreal Games Summit at the Palais de Congress international convention.
December 9The 2007 Spike Video Game Awards are held.

Game releases in 2007