Activision Blizzard
Diablo Series
Games: Diablo (1997), Diablo II (2000), Diablo II: Lord of Destruction (2001)
Copies sold: 18.5 million
In 1997, the company released Diablo, an action role-playing game that plunged players into the dark, atmospheric story of a war between Heaven and Hell. The series helped establish the so-called "hack and slash" genre, with players pointing and clicking repeatedly to kill enemies. The games also randomly generated new levels each time players started again so that no two experiences were exactly alike. That, combined with basic but addictive gameplay and the ability to play online, cemented Diablo's popularity.
