Capcomhas had some dips in the past, but ever since they put outResident Evil VIIin 2017, they have been on a run. Every year has at least one, if not several hits that fans dig across the board. This is all to say Capcom is one of Japan’s biggest companies with a wide catalog of series under its forty plus year belt.
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Figuring out which one has sold the most is a bit tricky as companies like Capcom like to keep exact details out of the public eye. These numbers are at least close to what one can presume are the real numbers based on press statements and accumulated data. Sadly fan favorites likeOkami, Dino Crisis,andBreath of Firedid not make the cut.
10Lost Planet
Lost Planetstarted its franchise in 2006 for the Xbox 360 and has sold about 6M units. The last game wasLost Planet 3in 2013, which is to say it never made it off systems from two generations ago. They are backwards compatible via Xbox systems though so that’s something. This wassort of Capcom’sWestern approach to theMonster Haunterformula although they seemingly could never make up their mind on if they wanted it to be that, or a story driven shooter.
9Phoenix Wright
Phoenix Wrightstarted its franchise in 2001 for the Game Boy Advance and has sold about 7M units. In Japan it’s known asGyakuten Saiban. The West would not see this franchise until 2005 when the first game was remade for the DS.
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There have been some recent remasters, but the last actual new game wasDai Gyakuten Saiban 2: Naruhodo Ryunosuke no Kakugowhich released for the 3DS in 2017 in Japan only.
8Onimusha
Onimushastarted its franchise in 2001 for the PS2 and has sold about 8M units. Other than the remaster in 2019, which made many hope Capcom would remaster others if not make a new game, the actual last entry was 2006’sOnimusha: Dawn of Dreamson PS2. There was a browser game release in 2012 for Japan only,Onimusha Soul, but that hardly seems like it should count. 2001 marks its twentieth anniversary so one can bet fans expect to see something.
7Marvel Vs Capcom
Marvel vs Capcomstarted its franchise in 1998 for arcades and has sold about 9M units. Technically this series started withX-Men vs. Street Fighterin 1996, also for arcades. However, the first time the name came up specifically was forMarvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroesin 1998. Semantics aside, it is a crossover fighter adored by many but the last entry was all the way back in 2017,Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, which had a mixed reception.
Dead Risingstarted its franchise in 2006 for the Xbox 360 and has sold about 14M units. The last entry, not including ports or DLC, was the fourth entry in 2016 for last-gen systems. With this series andResident Evil, not to mention Onimusha since thatis samurai zombies, Capcom made a lot of money off of the zombie genre. By the time the fourth game came out though fans had started to feel fatigue.
5Devil May Cry
Devil May Crystarted its franchise in 2001 for the PS2 and has sold about 22M units. There have been some pauses in-between releases, but the last main one brought this series back to power withDevil May Cry 5in 2019. In terms of reviews that is. Sales for it did not necessarilysoar for Capcomso it is unknown if it will go back into hiding once again. For diehard fans, they’re hoping it’s here to stay though.
4Mega Man
Mega Manstarted its franchise in 1987 for the NES and has sold about 36M units. Mega Man is another Capcom hero that goes away only to return sporadically. The last game wasMega Man 11in 2018, unless one wanted to countRockman X DiVEwhich was a 2020 phone game.Mega Man 11was supposed to be the Blue Bomber’s big return but it ultimately failed to capture a new audience and old fans were mixed.
3Street Fighter
Street Fighterstarted its franchise in 1987 for arcades and has sold about 45M units. It would not hit its stride until the second game released in 1991. To say it changed the arcade scene would be an understatement. Developers from across the globe chased its fighting game magic. Some nailed it, while others failed gloriously. The last core entry wasStreet Fighter Vin 2016, but Capcom has re-released it multiple times, the latest of which was in 2020, with new characters and modes.
2Monster Hunter
Monster Hunterstarted its franchise in 2004 for the PS2 and has sold about 65M units. This was a huge phenomenon in Japan for over a decade. It never really caught on in the West though. That is untilMonster Hunter Worldcame out.
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Now this series is more embraced, thus earning Capcom more money from an even bigger audience. The latest entry,Monster Hunter Rise, is set to release in March on Switch.
1Resident Evil
Resident Evilstarted its franchise in 1996 for the PS1 and has sold about 105M units. As well asMonster Hunterhas done in Japan, the counter to that has always beenResident Evilfor Western fans. It still remains Capcom’s best selling franchise globally. To reiterate it again, zombies seem to be the company’s bread and butter. The latest entry,Resident Evil 8, will be out in May.
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