The Legend of Zelda is now the 6th best selling franchise.

Nintendo's Best Selling Franchises - Nintendo News from The Hylia

Nintendo's big franchises top the all-time charts as both the Mario and Pokémon franchises strengthened their positions at #1 and #2 respectively, while The Legend of Zelda jumped the Grand Theft Auto series to capture the #6 spot.

As of March 2007, these are the totals on Nintendo's biggest franchises:

Total Mario series: more than 198 million units sold worldwide
Total Pokémon series: more than 164 million units worldwide
Total Zelda series: more than 52 million units worldwide
Total Donkey Kong series: more than 48 million units worldwide
Total Metroid series: more than 13 million units worldwide

As for the worldwide best sellers from any company, Zelda comes in sixth place, right behind the Madden series, and just surpassed the Grand Theft Auto series, although with the impending release of the fourth installment, it looks to recapture its spot very soon unless Phantom Hourglass is a blockbuster success later this year.

Below are the top selling video game franchises, according to Wikipedia's entry on the subject, with the updated numbers from Nintendo.

1. Mario (198 million)
2. Pokémon (164 million)
3. Sim (85 million)
4. Final Fantasy (75 million)
5. Madden NFL (56 million)
6. Zelda (52 million)
7. Grand Theft Auto (50 million)

Wow, it surpassed GTA. But like the article said, with the 4th one coming out, I expect it to be in seventh again. Still, that is great for Zelda!

That's pretty cool, go Zelda! I thought Metroid would be higher than DK for some reason, oh well. Fair play to Zelda though, it's up there.

Yeah, Metroid is very low compared to the others.

I didn't think that GTA was THAT popular. But anyways that is pretty cool. I thought Zelda would surpass madden. I was wrong.

Amazing! Go Nintendo!

I thought it would be much higher...

I thought Metroid might be higher, it's so awesome, the rivalry between Samus and Ridley...but that's off topic.
Anyways, I expected Zelda to be higher, like 4th or 3rd place...so what are we supposed to do, celebrate?
Whoop-dee-doo.

GTA may be fun, but it's just enhanced violence...

i like punching people in it... except that when i use a gun, i can't aim

Originally posted by Johnny K.
Wow, it surpassed GTA. But like the article said, with the 4th one coming out, I expect it to be in seventh again. Still, that is great for Zelda!

Don't be so sure just yet; PH is also coming out this year, on a certain little handheld that's as popular as oxygen.

Mario is still on top...and GTA is 7th. I thought GTA would be 5th.

1. Mario (198 million)
2. Pokémon (164 million)
3. Sim (85 million)
4. Final Fantasy (75 million)
5. Madden NFL (56 million)
6. Zelda (52 million)
7. Grand Theft Auto (50 million)

Go legend of Zelda!!

wonder what the numbers will look like when GTA IV and LOZ: PH are released.

Originally Posted by Johnny K.

1. Mario (198 million)
2. Pokémon (164 million)
3. Sim (85 million)
4. Final Fantasy (75 million)
5. Madden NFL (56 million)
6. Zelda (52 million)
7. Grand Theft Auto (50 million)

That's sort of sad. My guess was that Zelda was like 4 and GTA was 5. I also didn't know that Madden was so popular.

Originally Posted by Johnny K.

Yeah, Metroid is very low compared to the others.

Metroid is one of those games that don't appeal to the broader public, i think. But its a real gem though.

Madden? What the hell. That list is different than to what i would of imagined.

But go Zelda!

Originally Posted by alexome12

I didn't think that GTA was THAT popular.

Kind of sad really...

But anyway top ten is pretty good. It kind of sucks that it is being beaten by poke mon though.

actually. zelda just passing GTA is very sad. There is like 13 zelda games, and 3 GTA games.

thats not true.
There is
GTA 1
GTA London 1961 and 1969
GTA 2
GTA 3
GTA vice city
GTA San Andras
GTA Vice city stories
GTA Liberty City Stories
GTA Advance
GTA 4
So 11 games, 10 are out already.
Woo for random gaming knowledge.

madden? MADDEN???????????????? people does actually buy madden??!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??!?!?! thats weird, i never saw anyone with a madden game, and what is sim?