Can you believe we've been having fun with board games for centuries? Seriously, they're the ultimate go-to for some good times, no matter your age or where you're from. You have to love the awesome variety out there – everything from funny themes to brain-teasing strategy games. There's a board game to tickle everyone's fancy.

And let's not forget those super popular, best-selling games of all time. You know the ones – they're the cool kids on the tabletop scene. They're winning players over left and right, and selling like hotcakes. Who says old school isn't cool?

We collected the below games by using a variety of sources that detailed how many copi꧋es have been sold worldwide.

Highest-Selling Board Games Of All Time (So Far)

Chess has always held the top spot as one of the best-selling games, and its historical and cultural importance proves that. Known as the "royal game" due to its popularity among the nobility, chess has transformed into a global competitive sport, with professional players and worldwide tournaments. With its need for smart strategies and clever moves, chess takes 'mental gymnastics' to another level.

If there were a hall of fame for board games, chess would absolutely be a gold medalist. More than chess sets are sold every year in the United States. Thanks to recent hits like the Netflix miniseries "The Queen's Gambit," chess board sales have skyrocketed by a staggering 215%.

Believe it or not, Monopoly wasn't invented to just be a fun board game. Dating all the way back to 1904, it was known as "The Landlord's Game," created by Lizzie Magie. It was initially intended to be an educational game to teach people about capitalism and political economic theories. Eventually reworked by Charles Darrow, it was sold as Monopoly by the Parker Brothers in 1935, and from there, it spread globally.

Monopoly also holds a pretty cool Guinness World Record for the most people playing the game simultaneously and has been a part of popular culture around the world. Today, you'd be hard-pressed to find a country where it hasn't been played, boasting availability in over 103 countries, 37 languages, and with a colossal finding homes worldwide by 2015.

Did you know this game had other names before becoming “Scrabble”? It's true! It was initially called "Lexiko" and "Criss-Cross Words." It only took its current name when James Brunot, who had taken over production reins from Butts, renamed it. He also tweaked the rules and the design of the board, also introducing the 50-point bonus for players who used all seven tiles to come up with a word.

The game spread like wildfire, thanks to the chair of Macy's, Jack Straus, who chanced upon the game in 1952. He loved Scrabble so much that he decided to sell it in his stores. Today, over Scrabble sets have found homes in 121 countries, and the game is being played in over 20 languages.

Who doesn't love a good murder mystery? Since 1949, Clue has been bringing the excitement and suspense of a classic whodunit right to your living room, thanks to its creator, Anthony E. Pratt. It's no wonder that over copies of the game have been sold worldwide. Its winning combination of suspense, mystery-solving and shared laughter makes it a go-to choice for any game night.

One big reason why Clue keeps people coming back for more is the way it constantly reinvents itself. You've got versions like "Clue: The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Clue: Star Wars" that add new spins and settings to make it line up with your favorite stories. At the end of the day, Clue is still a top-notch board game that keeps drawing both casual players and hardcore game enthusiasts.

Originally, Battleship was simply a pencil-and-paper game, but Milton Bradley turned it into a must-have board game in 1967. Battleship has totally evolved over the years. It went from this old school game to electronic versions, video games, and even smartphone apps. And that's not all—they've also created different themed versions to attract even more players.

Battleship is incredibly popular—it's sold over copies since it first came on the scene. This makes it one of the top-selling board games of all time. The clever yet intuitive gameplay has kept it a favorite for generations, and it's secured its spot in the board game hall of fame. All this is why Battleship is such a hit (pun intended) in the super competitive world of board games.

This legendary game has been a children's favorite since the late 1940s. Designed by a schoolteacher named Eleanor Abbott who was recovering from polio, it has remained a superhit since its inception. What's so great about Candy Land is that it's super easy - no reading or counting skills needed, making it suitable for really young kids too!

Candy Land has since become a staple in US homes. It's been one of the top-sellers among children's board games, selling over copies so far. Its appea🎉l? Its simplicity, combined with the fact that it helps with color recognition and basic counting, also makes it a super educational game.

FAQ

What makes a board game a bestseller?

So many things! Gameplay mechanics, theme, marketing strategies, and cultural impact are all factors that contribute to a board game's commercial success.

Which original board game has sold the most copies worldwide?

As much as people might hate it, Monopo💫ly is actually the most popular original board game. Over 275 million copies have been sold around the world, including themed versions.