The Most Googled Game in Every State (and Country)

People of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds have made their way to the world of gaming over many years. With hundreds of thousands of games available on a variety of platforms, there is sure to be something for everyone.

Whether you are a fan of combat-style games or you prefer cozy, adventure-style games, or puzzles games like Sudoku, there is a community of gamers you can connect with. We know how vast the world of gaming can be and just how successful it has been in bringing people together over the years.

That’s why we set out to learn which games are most commonly capturing gamers' attention both in the U.S. and abroad. To do this, we built a list of more than 5,000 games and collected Google search volume over the past year to determine the most Googled games in each state and the top 25 countries by GDP. In addition, we wanted to gain insight into the new releases poised to make their way into the world this year and uncover which are garnering the most anticipation. Read on to learn what we found.

Key Takeaways

• Fortnite is the most Googled game in the U.S. in 2025.
• Helldivers 2 ranks first for the most Googled game in 10 states.
• Assassin's Creed Shadows, set to release in March, is the most anticipated game of 2025 in the U.S.
• Fortnite and Minecraft are the most Googled games on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile.

The Most Popular Game in Each U.S. State

Up first, the number one most Googled game in the U.S. in 2025 is Fortnite which was created by Epic Games. For those in the gaming world, this likely comes as no surprise given the game’s popularity among people of all ages. Fortnite, which was released in 2017, has received many updates over the years adding different game modes and maps, keeping the game fresh for players.

The main game mode, battle royale, also entices groups of friends who like to play together as it offers the ability to play as a solo player or with partners in duos, trios, or squads. In addition to battle royale, gamers can also play Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, Fortnite Festival, and creative game modes, which are created by other players.

In second place as the most Googled game in the U.S. is Minecraft. This game, made up of blocks, offers players the opportunity to play in a survival mode or focus on building whatever their heart desires. From capturing different creatures to building a community, Minecraft is another game that has captured the attention of players of all ages.

In third place is Geometry Dash. Initially released in 2013 for Android and iOS, this horizontal runner-style game requires players to navigate music-based levels while avoiding obstacles. In 2014, the game was released on Steam, giving even more players access to play.

In addition to our overall ranking, we wanted to learn more about the games capturing the most attention in each state. Up first, claiming the number-one spot in 10 states is Helldivers II. The third-person shooter game, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony

Interactive Entertainment, was released for the PlayStation 5 and PC in 2024. This game comes as a sequel to the first Helldivers, released in 2015. The game takes place in a futuristic world where mankind is ruled by the “managed democracy” of Super Earth. The events of this game take place about a century after the original game and players take on the role of “Helldivers,” which are expendable soldiers who are working to protect the rest of humanity from various enemies.

Up next, we return to a game from our overall list, as Fortnite claims the top spot in 7 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. Following closely behind with 6 states is Palworld, which was released in 2024. The open-world survival game allows players to befriend and collect creatures called “Pal,” and then use those “Pals” to fight, build, and more. This game is the most Googled in Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

The Most Googled Games in Other Countries

In addition to uncovering the most popular games in the U.S., we wanted to learn which games are bringing players around the world together. To do this, we collected the search volume for our list of games in 25 of the world’s largest countries by GDP. Through this, we discovered many of the games that reign supreme in the U.S. are also thriving overseas.

Up first as the most Googled game, claiming the top spot in 16 out of the 25 countries, is Minecraft. While many Americans play the game, people in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey also enjoy Minecraft.

In second place for the top game is Fortnite which ranked first in 6 countries, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. For the final 3 countries, the most Googled game is unique to each country. In Canada, Super Contra, a coin-operated arcade video game released in 1988, is the most Googled. In today’s world, it is common for old arcade games to make their way online so that fans, both old and new to the game, can enjoy it anywhere, anytime.

In Ireland, Littlewood holds the title for the most Googled game. The game was originally released in 2019, with Nintendo Switch users gaining access in 2021. The single-player game starts as a world of trees, rocks, and weeds, and by unlocking new tools, players harvest materials to build a town. Finally, the top-searched game in Sweden is Gran Turismo. This real driving simulator has had multiple releases over the years, offering fans updated versions since the game was originally released in 1997.

For our final analysis of the most Googled games, we wanted to learn more about which games reign supreme on different gaming platforms. Overall, Fortnite and Minecraft were the first and second most popular games, respectively, on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and mobile. For PC and mobile games, Geometry Dash ranks third. While Helldivers II ranks third for PlayStation, Palworld claims third on Xbox, and Pac-Man, and Pac-Mania rank third for Nintendo Switch.

Most Anticipated Games of 2025 Overall in the U.S.

After uncovering the most Googled games that people are already familiar with, we wanted to turn our attention to the games set to be released in 2025. Up first, as the most anticipated game scheduled to release this year, is Assassin's Creed Shadows, which is set to release March 20th. The game was originally scheduled for release in November 2024 but has experienced multiple delays. Fans are hopeful that the most recent delay will be the last.

Coming in second place for anticipated games is Monster Hunter Wilds, which is set to release on February 28th. This game is a follow-up to Monster Hunter World, which was released in 2018. In the game, players will take on the role of a professional hunter, tracking down monsters while collecting materials to craft new gear and customize their play style.

In third place is InZOI, which is considered to be a major rival for the Sims games. In this similar life-simulation game, players will have the ability to create characters, homes, and more with an in-depth level of customization.

The Most Anticipated Game Releases of 2025 in Each State and Country

Similar to games that are currently available, we wanted to learn which 2025 releases are capturing the most attention in each state and countries around the world. Up first in the U.S., claiming the top spot in 19 states is Borderlands 4, which is slated for release between July and December of 2025. In this game, players will travel to Kairos, a new location in the Borderlands universe, as one of the Vault Hunters assisting in the resistance of the game’s new antagonist, the Timekeeper.

In countries outside of the U.S., Assassin's Creed Shadows is the most anticipated as it ranks first in 17 of the 25 countries. In second place in the U.S. is InZOI, claiming 15 states. This game is also a top game in 7 other countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey. Of the 25 countries in this study, only 1—Japan—is most excited about a game other than InZOI or Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Residents of Japan are most excited about the release of the multiplayer third-person shooter game, Mecha BREAK. In this game, players must fight for control of a new resource, “Corite,” in both ground and aerial battles because the Sun triggered unparalleled geological disasters, reshaping Earth and plunging humanity into chaos. This highly anticipated game has yet to confirm an official release date for this year.

Connect with People Around the World Through Gaming

People spend time together in a variety of ways, from eating meals and running errands to going on walks and playing video games. Regardless of the activity, spending quality time with people who are closest to you helps to grow bonds.

At Sudoku Online, we know that when someone has a game they enjoy, they like to share it with others who they think would enjoy it as well. Whether you play on your own and discuss it with your friend later or you join an online lobby and play together, gaming is a popular way people connect in this day and age.

Gaming doesn’t always have to be with other people, however, as sometimes indulging in your favorite game can simply be a way to unwind and relax after a busy day. If you are looking for a new game to keep your mind occupied, try Sudoku. You can start with an easy puzzle or crank up the difficulty with a medium, hard, or even tough puzzle.

Methodology

In this study, we collected the titles of 5,000+ popular games. We then collected the national search volume for all keywords over the past 12 months and consolidated our list to terms with a national average monthly search volume of 5,000 or higher. Additionally, we removed keywords that contained character restrictions in Google Ads (i.e. "!") and terms that are not unique to that game to avoid skewed search volume based on other things (i.e. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [TMNT].") This refined our list of games to 1,100+.

Next, we filtered the games from highest to lowest national average search volume to determine the most Googled games overall. Then, we compared the search volume of each game in each state compared to the national search volume to determine which games were most unusually popular by state. After collecting data for games currently being played, we repeated these same steps with a new list of games (30+) that are set to be released in 2025.

After collecting the U.S. data, we turned our attention to the top 25 countries by GDP, minus those well-known for blocking Google or having a popular local alternative. We then collected the most Googled game and most anticipated game of 2025 for each country based on the highest average monthly search volume.