Overview of 2024’s Gaming Landscape
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 emerged as the top-selling game of 2024.
- Notable titles such as Helldivers 2, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, and Elden Ring secured positions in the top 10, while fan favorites like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Tekken 8 made it into the top 20.
- Overall, U.S. gaming expenditures fell by 1.1%, totaling $58.7 billion for the year.
According to Circana’s latest analysis, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 dominated sales in 2024, solidifying its status as a blockbuster title. In addition to this standout game, the period saw the release of highly anticipated titles, including Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and Dragon’s Dogma 2. Interestingly, 2024’s gaming market presented some surprises, particularly the recognition of Balatro, an indie poker-themed roguelike that received a Game of the Year nomination alongside more established franchises.
Data from Circana, analyzed by Mat Piscatella, reveals that EA Sports College Football 25 and Helldivers 2 followed closely behind the best-seller, making a notable impact in the sports genre. It’s worth mentioning that five titles within the top 10 were sports games, including NBA 2K25, Madden NFL 25, and EA Sports FC 25. The enduring success of Elden Ring was also highlighted, particularly due to the impactful release of its expansion in June 2024. Other prominent games included Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero and Tekken 8, representing the fighting game category alongside major RPG successes such as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Hogwarts Legacy, and Dragon’s Dogma 2.
Top 20 Best-Selling Games in the U.S. for 2024
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- EA Sports College Football 25
- Helldivers 2
- Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
- NBA 2K25
- Madden NFL 25
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
- EA Sports FC 25
- Ring of Fire
- EA Sports MVP Bundle
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Dragon’s Dogma 2
- WWE 2K24
- MLB: The Show 24
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Minecraft
- Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
- Tekken 8
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- NBA 2K24
Despite a slight overall decline in gaming expenditures, where spending decreased by 1.1% to $58.7 billion, content spending rose by 2% to $50.6 billion. Notably, hardware sales plummeted 25% year-over-year, amounting to only $4.9 billion. The PlayStation 5 became the best-selling console in 2024, followed by the Nintendo Switch in unit sales and the Xbox Series X/S leading in revenue.
Looking ahead, the gaming industry has an exciting lineup for 2025, with anticipated releases such as Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Avowed scheduled for the early months of the year. Additionally, there are ongoing speculations about Grand Theft Auto VI, which is expected to launch in 2025, with rumors suggesting a starting price of as much as $100.
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