Which PlayStation Store games were downloaded most in 2021?

By Kes Eylers-Stephenson,
Sony has formally released the top downloaded games of 2021 on the PlayStation Blog. These are games downloaded directly from the European and North American PlayStation Store in four categories: PS5, PS4, PS VR, and free-to-play.

playstation store

PS5 most downloaded games

US/CanadaEU
1NBA 2K22FIFA 22
2Call of Duty: VanguardCall of Duty: Vanguard
3Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles MoralesFIFA 21
4Madden NFL 22Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
5Battlefield 2042Battlefield 2042
6Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartAmong Us
7Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarKena: Bridge of Spirits
8MLB The Show 21Far Cry 6
9Resident Evil VillageIt Takes Two
10Far Cry 6Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
11Assassin’s Creed ValhallaF1 2021
12FIFA 22Resident Evil Village
13Among UsNBA 2K22
14Mortal Kombat 11Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
15NBA 2K21 Next GenerationCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
16It Takes TwoTom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Seige
17FIFA 21Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition
18DeathloopDiablo II: Resurrected
19ReturnalDeathloop
20Kena: Bridge of SpiritsMortal Kombat 11
The biggest surprise here is probably that Call of Duty: Vanguard missed out on the top spot to a sports game — NBA 2K22 took first in North American territories and FIFA 22 in Europe. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales has put in a huge shift for PS5 this year, but it is incredible to see in the top five most downloaded games for both territories, fending off all the other sports and FPS game franchises with aplomb.

Among Us, with only a few weeks on the market, is already on both lists somehow. It is also worth noting just how well Kena: Bridge of Spirits did in the EU compared to the US, whereas Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart had the lombax's share of attention in the US. On the note of PS5 exclusives, just have a look at Returnal and Deathloop struggling to even be in the chart at all for 2021 despite high praise. We imagine that these two will have long-tail sales though given that they are PlayStation exclusives.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

PS4 most downloaded games

US/CanadaEU
1Grand Theft Auto VFIFA 22
2Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarGrand Theft Auto V
3MinecraftMinecraft
4NBA 2K22FIFA 21
5Call of Duty: VanguardCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
6Madden NFL 22The Crew 2
7NBA 2K21Red Dead Redemption 2
8Red Dead Redemption 2The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition
9MLB The Show 21Call of Duty: Vanguard
10Mortal Kombat 11The Forest
On PS4 it is clear that now support is winding down, the cream is rising to the top for the generation. That essentially means that Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto V, and FIFA/Call of Duty have retained top positions. Perhaps surprising is that The Crew 2 has such a high place on PS4 in the EU alongside The Forest in tenth. When your names are associated with The Witcher 3 and Red Dead Redemption 2, you know you are doing something right.

Online Beta Update 26/02

Here are the remaining two lists:

PS VR most downloaded games

US/CanadaEU
1Beat SaberBeat Saber
2Job SimulatorJob Simulator
3Superhot VRSuperhot VR
4GornCreed: Rise to Glory
5Swordsman VRSwordsman VR
6Creed Rise to GloryThe Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
7Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR SeriesGorn
8The Walking Dead: Saints & SinnersRick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality
9Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-alityVader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series
10The Walking Dead OnslaughtAstrobot Rescue Mission

Free-to-Play most downloaded games

US/CanadaEU
1FortniteFortnite
2Call of Duty: WarzoneRocket League
3Rocket LeagueCall of Duty: Warzone
4SplitgateeFootball 2022
5Apex LegendsGenshin Impact
What do you think of these lists? Any surprises? Anything you think is missing? Let us know in the comments!
Kes Eylers-Stephenson
Written by Kes Eylers-Stephenson
Editor Kes is our resident expert in PlayStation and other gaming news. He writes about exclusives like The Last of Us and Horizon, PS Plus news, and his favourite games — The Witcher, Assassin’s Creed, and God of War — before an evening swim.
Hide ads
View discussion...
Hide ads