When the first video game was created in 1958, people at the Brookhaven National Laboratory were incredibly excited. However, the joy over the invention didn’t spread far and wide until the 1970s when Pong was released. This was the first game to appeal to the masses.
Despite Pong’s immense popularity, many believed video games were a waste of time. People like Michael Moon even went on record to say that video games are just a passing fad that would soon die down.
Years later, with the industry valued at around $384.9 billion, the proof is in the pudding. Read on as we explore which games throughout history have been so fun, engaging, and immersive that they’re downright addictive.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The 2011-released The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, more commonly called just Skyrim, has sold over 30 million copies. It is also widely acknowledged as the most addictive video game ever released—and for good reason.
The plot of the game is relatively simple. You play as the Dragonborn, and your quest is to overcome a dragon called Alduin the World-Eater. However, this storyline is only a tiny portion of what the game offers, and players can easily play for hours without even touching the main plotline.
The multiple side quests, mods, and other interactive game elements can quickly draw you in and make time whizz past without even noticing. The fact that the game has incredible graphics and can pull you into the Skyrim world adds to this addictive quality.
Many players claim that Skyrim offers the ability to escape reality in a way few other games can. These claims are verified by the awards the game has accrued—including Best Video Game and Best RPG (role-playing game).
Minecraft
When Minecraft became available in beta in 2009 and officially launched in 2011, many naysayers believed that a modern video game without realistic graphics wouldn’t catch on. However, with over 140 million active players each month, this proved far from true.
Placing you into a world reminiscent of a universe built with crude Lego blocks and bad pixelation, you must survive the various monsters that roam around. While doing this, you must make yourself a sanctuary and mine, farm, and craft multiple elements or tools.
The game is a fan favorite, grossing over $3 billion in in-game sales. With players able to play on servers, the game can quickly draw you in to play for what feels like minutes but is actually hours. More than this, in the UK, the game is even being used in schools to teach about historical events, meaning some players may have little time to disconnect.
Clash of Clans
Many hardcore gamers would argue that mobile games don’t count as proper video games. Those same people generally say that most games found on an online casino list are also not video games—even though, technically, they are.
Whether you fall on the side of mobile gaming or not, Clash of Clans has proven addictive and has amassed over 600 million players since its launch in 2012. With users spending over $2 million daily on in-game items, the game takes mobile gaming to a new level.
Aside from the gameplay of having to protect and upgrade your base while overcoming enemies, one thing makes this game more addictive than similar games available on consoles or PCs. It is portable, and players can log on no matter where they are—whether in class or a meeting. The game is readily available at a moment’s notice.
Grand Theft Auto
When Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas launched in 2004, players were hooked to the series. From the new game mechanics that later became a staple of the franchise to the incredible open world that was not easily found elsewhere, the game captivated players.
By the time Grand Theft Auto V launched, players were dying for a new way to experience the game—with previous titles like GTA IV not measuring up to what had become expected after San Andreas.
The new version was such a hit that players found it hard to turn off and preferred staying in the digital world where they could go wild. Proof of this peaked in February 2020 when more than 267,000 players were logged as playing GTA Online simultaneously—an impressive figure for a game seven years old.
League of Legends
No other video game perfectly encapsulates the power of video games better than League of Legends. The game has over 152 million players in 2023 (almost 14 years after its release) and has spawned numerous esports tournaments worldwide.
The game requires players placed in an arena to utilize their skill and experience to emerge victorious over other enemies. Considering some of these skills can take months to master, it is no wonder the game is so addictive. The longer you play, the better you get, and the more you want to improve.
Previously the most played video game in the world, the game only lost this title when battle royale games like Fortnite and PUBG (Player Unknown’s Battleground) came onto the scene. However, it remains one of the most popular games for competition and is considered one of the most dangerous games for anyone likely to develop an addiction.
Notable Mentions
While the above games are some of the most addictive, many more have sucked countless players in over the years. They include the following:
- Fortnite
- PUBG
- PokemonGo
- Mario Kart
- World of Warcraft
- Path of Exile
- DOTA 2
- CS: Go (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
- Overwatch