NEW YORK (May 6, 2010) – Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking achievements, today announced the all-time Top 50 Videogame Series as voted on by the readers. After receiving more than 13,000 votes, it was Halo, Call of Duty and The Legend of Zelda that were left standing at the top of the chart. The list currently featured in the Guinness World Records 2010 Gamer’s Edition notes the best all-around series including all titles and spin-offs, serving as a snapshot of the biggest names in gaming today.

Landing in first place is Microsoft’s flagship franchise Halo – the “Best-Selling First-Person Shooter (FPS) Franchise Ever”. According to the Gamer’s Edition, “Featuring an iconic character, excellent level design, perfect controls and unparalleled multiplayer options, the series sets the bar at near-unattainable heights.”

Call of Duty and The Legend of Zelda claimed the second and third spots, respectively. Call of Duty – the most successful entertainment launch of all-time – boasts beautifully balanced gameplay with jaw-dropping set pieces and extensive multiplayer options. The Legend of Zelda is credited for providing players of all skill levels addictive and immersive gameplay, while also featuring one of gaming’s most recognizable heroes – Link.

“We decided to take a different approach with this list than we did in the previous edition,” said Guinness World Records Gaming Editor Gaz Deaves. “Instead of asking developers, industry insiders and journalists to rank their favorite titles, we approached a different kind of expert: the players themselves! We are confident that this ‘top 50’ more accurately reflects the tastes of the average gamer and not just the critics.”

The subsequent spots, in ranking order, are Guitar Hero (#4), Metal Gear (#5), Super Mario Bros. (#6), World of Warcraft (#7), Gears of War (#8), Super Smash Bros. (#9), Grand Theft Auto (#10), Pokémon (# 11), Resident Evil (#12). Fallout (#13), Half-Life (#14), Sonic the Hedgehog (#15), Counter-Strike (#16), Runescape (#17), FIFA (#18), Kingdom Hearts (#19), Final Fantasy (#20), Pac-Man (#21), Madden NFL (#22), The Sims (#23), Tomb Raider (#24), WWE Smackdown Vs. RAW (#25), Rock Band (#26), LIttleBigPlanet (#27), Saints Row (#28), The Elder Scrolls (#29), (#30), God of WarGoldenEye 007 (#31), Bioshock (#32), KillZone (#33), Skate (#34), Left 4 Dead (#35), Need for Speed (#36), Chrono Trigger (#37), Gran Turismo (#38), StarCraft (#39), Ratchet & Clank (#40), Pong (#41), Tom Clancy’s (# 42), Star Wars: Battlefront (#43), Battlefield (#44), Diablo (#45), Lego Batman (#46), Mario Kart (#47), Burnout (#48), Crash Bandicoot (#49) and Pro Evolution Soccer (#50).

To determine this list, the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition website hosted a poll between January and August 2009.

The Guinness World Records 2010 Gamer’s Edition book is the go-to tome for all things video games, from records to trivia to interviews with industry bigwigs and more. The book is available now for $14.95. For more information, please visit the website at http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com/.