It's not really surprising that game sequels sell better than new intellectual properties. Didn't expect it to be this lopsided, though: seven of the eight best-selling games in the past twelve months have been sequels.

Here's the list of the top eight sellers from this past year, compiled in a SeekingAlpha article:

1. Call of Duty 4 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC
2. Halo 3 for the Xbox 360
3. Grand Theft Auto 4 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC
4. Mario Kart Wii for the Wii
5. Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii
6. Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii
7. Wii Fit for the Wii
8. Metal Gear Solid 4 for the PlayStation 3

The only non-sequel on this list is, of course, Wii Fit. It's not hard to imagine the charts being sequel-heavy next year as well, with games like Resident Evil 5 and Final Fantasy XIII among the 2009 offerings. This might be disheartening for gamers who want studios to try something new and fresh rather than sticking to their proven franchises but truth be told, none of the games on the above list were really crap.