Are you ready, Player One? National Video Game Day is July 8.
Celebrating video games and gamers everywhere, National Video Game Day might not be an officially recognized holiday, but don’t let that stop you from logging on and indulging in your favorite games — both new and old.
BetMassachusetts.com turns attention from Massachusetts sports betting for a second to celebrate National Video Game Day by ranking the state’s favorite video games.
Of course, determining the games Massachusetts loves best is entirely subjective, but we thought we’d have some fun and bring data into the equation.
First, we considered the Top 10 best-selling video game franchises, according to Statista. Then we used Google Trends to identify which games generated the most search engine volume between June 27, 2022 to June 27, 2023
So without further ado, here are the top five favorite video games, as ranked by BetMassachusetts.com, your source for Massachusetts betting promos.
In the decade since its release Minecraft has become the single best-selling video game title of all time. Ranked as Massachusetts’ favorite, the “sand-box” style format allows limitless creative potential for players to explore the blocky world of the game.
While there is a survival mode, the creative mode has captivated gamers, and helped create an offshoot of Minecraft fandom and content creation, with users showing off unique builds and re-creations of real world places and landmarks built to scale.
Next up, Pokémon rates out as the second favorite game among Massachusetts residents. With its adorable figurehead Pikachu, the addictive role -playing game became an international sensation when it was released by Nintendo in the late-1990s. Fueled by a hit anime series and a popular trading card game, Nintendo’s profits skyrocketed by 250% the year following the release of the first two Pokémon games in 1998.
At No. 3 on our list is the LEGO series. Featuring beloved film franchises adapted into the signature style of LEGO blocks and characters, more than 20 titles have been released since 2005.
The popular real-world simulation game The Sims is No. 4 on our list. A game-ified version of “adult-ing,” The Sims puts players in God-like command of their doll-like avatars. In the game you are not only responsible for housing and feeding your sims, but maintaining interpersonal relationships and emotional fulfillment, too. Since its release in 2000, The Sims has sold over 200 million copies.
There are two titles tied for fifth — FIFA and Call of Duty.
The internationally beloved soccer game FIFA has had a new release each year since 1993. It is the best-selling sports video game of all time, with its 29 editions moving more than 300 million copies. However, the long-running relationship between EA Sports and the governing body of world soccer (the titular FIFA) has come to an end. Last year’s FIFA 23 will be the last sanctioned release.
Nevertheless, EA is working on their new strand — known as EA Sports FC — and they already have secured licensing agreements with all “Big Five” European soccer leagues. The new game is set to debut later this year.
Similarly, the next Call of Duty title will be released in late 2023. While an official announcement hasn’t been made, it’s expected that the highly anticipated Modern Warfare 3 will become available in November.
In terms of video games, there are certainly no shortage of great options to celebrate with on July 8. But the launch of Massachusetts sports betting apps also coincides with another way to engage with National Video Game Day — placing a wager on an eSports event!
Author
Jeff Parker is an entertainment writer for BetMassachusetts.com. A writer for film, television and the internet, Jeff is a life long movie buff, with a Masters Degree in Popular Culture. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he works full time as documentary filmmaker and producer.
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