By Jon Scarr
Every year, Google search trends give a good sense of which consoles and video games are getting the most attention around the world. Futbin released a new breakdown of the most Googled gaming consoles and video games of 2025, covering more than 100 countries. The data reflects average monthly searches from the past twelve months, and the maps show a clear snapshot of how different regions compare when it comes to hardware and software.
Some results line up with what you would expect, but a few stood out once I started looking country by country. The PlayStation 5 leads by a wide margin worldwide, yet Canada’s search behaviour points in another direction. Interest in the Nintendo Switch 2 is growing fast here, and it shows across the map. The sports category follows the same pattern. EA Sports FC 25 leads most regions, but North America highlights different favourites.
Minecraft continues to dominate the global charts in the general games category as well. Grand Theft Auto V still holds strong in many countries, which shows how long that game has stayed relevant. Futbin gathered this data using Google Keyword Planner, tracking average monthly searches across more than 100 countries over the past year. Multiple search terms were included for each console and video game to make sure alternative names and abbreviations were captured.
There is a lot happening in this dataset, so here is a closer look at how Canada, the United States, and the rest of the world compare.
North America Results Google Video Game Search Trends in 2025
The Canadian results are the first thing that stood out to me. The most Googled console in Canada over the past year is the Nintendo Switch 2, which shows how much interest there is in Nintendo’s new system. The United States mirrors that result, also showing the Nintendo Switch 2 as its top console. Both countries follow the same pattern, and it says a lot about how strong the Switch brand still is across the region. I wrote earlier about how the Nintendo Switch 2's launch set new records, and these search results match that momentum.
Mexico, however, shows a different result. The most Googled console there is the Nintendo Switch, which matches the long-running popularity of the original model in that market. Seeing all three countries side by side makes it clear that Nintendo continues to hold a strong presence across North America, whether it is the original system or the newer Nintendo Switch 2.
Sports game searches show the same kind of regional split. Canada’s top sports title is EA Sports NHL 25, which lines up with how popular hockey has always been here. The United States highlights NBA 2K25 instead, showing a different preference. Mexico shifts again, with the map pointing to EA Sports FC 25. That range becomes even more noticeable when compared to the global picture, where EA Sports FC 25 leads in the highest number of countries, followed by eFootball 2025.
Minecraft continues to be the most searched general video game across all three countries. You can see its presence in almost every region worldwide, but it is still impressive to see how consistently it appears throughout North America. Grand Theft Auto V shows up in several regions globally, though Minecraft comfortably holds the top spot here.
Overall, the North American map shows a clear pattern. The Nintendo Switch family remains strong across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and Minecraft continues to dominate general searches in all three countries.
Global Console Search Trends in 2025
Looking at the global results, the PlayStation 5 leads by a wide margin. It is the most Googled gaming console in 129 countries, which shows how strong Sony’s presence still is this far into the generation. The map highlights broad interest across Europe, Asia, and large parts of Africa, even though some countries such as the United States and Canada show higher search activity for the Nintendo Switch 2.
The Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 share the next position, with each console appearing as the top result in 23 countries. It is interesting to see how evenly those two systems divide the map, especially since the original Nintendo Switch is nearing the end of its life cycle while the Nintendo Switch 2 continues to build momentum after launch. The first-generation Nintendo Switch remains popular in regions where portable and hybrid gaming have always been strong.
The Xbox Series X shows up as the top console in 9 countries. While this number is smaller compared to the PlayStation 5, the map makes it clear that Xbox still has solid pockets of support in specific regions.
Overall, the global results show a clear picture. The PlayStation 5 is far ahead, the Nintendo Switch family maintains strong interest across multiple regions, and the Xbox Series X continues to find steady support where its audience is most active.
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| Source: Futbin.com |
Global Sports Game Search Trends in 2025
The global sports game results show a very different picture compared to North America. EA Sports FC 25 is the clear leader worldwide, appearing as the most Googled sports video game in 86 countries. Football’s global reach continues to drive huge interest, and the map makes it easy to see how strongly FC 25 stands out across Europe, South America, Africa, and parts of Asia.
eFootball 2025 follows in second place with 65 countries, which is a solid result, especially in regions where free-to-play titles usually perform well. The contrast between FC 25 and eFootball 2025 matches what you would expect from worldwide search trends. Both attract large audiences, but FC 25 reaches more countries overall.
North America shows a very different mix compared to the global data. Canada highlights EA Sports NHL 25, the United States shows NBA 2K25, and Mexico lines up with EA Sports FC 25. These differences make it clear how local sports culture shapes search behaviour from region to region.
Overall, the global map confirms that football games continue to dominate the sports category. EA Sports FC 25 has the widest presence, with eFootball 2025 close behind, while regional favourites fill out the rest of the results.
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| Source: Futbin.com |
Global Video Game Search Trends in 2025
The general video game results are dominated by one title, and it probably will not surprise anyone. Minecraft leads searches in 152 countries, giving it the widest reach of any game in the entire dataset. The map is almost completely covered in green, and it shows how strong Minecraft still is more than a decade after its original release. Its mix of creativity, accessibility, and steady updates keeps it relevant in almost every part of the world.
Grand Theft Auto V comes in second with 35 countries, which is impressive considering its age. GTA V continues to attract new interest each year, helped by its single-player roots and the ongoing popularity of GTA Online. When you compare the two maps side by side, it becomes obvious how far Minecraft stretches globally, but GTA V still holds a noticeable presence in several regions.
These results highlight how a few games manage to stay active year after year. Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto V have outlasted entire console generations, yet they continue to show up at the top of global search results. Not many games can maintain that kind of momentum.
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| Source: Futbin.com |
Final Thoughts
Looking at the full dataset, this gives a clear snapshot of where gaming attention is going right now. The PlayStation 5 still leads most of the world, but the Nintendo Switch 2 shows strong activity in places like Canada and the United States. The sports results highlight how different regions follow their own favourites, and it is easy to see that global trends do not always match what we see in North America. The general games category stands out too. Minecraft continues to hold a level of worldwide interest that very few titles can match, and Grand Theft Auto V still shows up in several countries across the map.
What stood out the most to me was how consistent some of these patterns are. Minecraft dominating this many regions more than a decade later is wild, and seeing the Nintendo Switch 2 come out on top in Canada matches the excitement that has been building around the system. The global lead for EA Sports FC 25 also fits with how massive the football audience is worldwide.
It is always interesting to see how these trends shift from year to year, especially when regional preferences stand out as clearly as they do here. If you follow gaming news or keep an eye on search behaviour, these maps offer a simple look at what people are curious about right now. What surprised you the most from this list?