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Circana Full Year Software Top 20 Results from 1995 to 2023 (Ranked by Revenue)

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Gaming Through the Decades: US Top 20 Best-selling Video Games of the Year, 2000 through 2023

Explore the most popular video games in US history from 2000 to 2023, highlighting key moments in game popularity and video game history.
www.circana.com www.circana.com

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OLD DATA from January 2024

Placement19951996199719981999
1Mortal Kombat IIISuper Mario 64Mario Kart 64The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeDonkey Kong 64
2Madden Nfl 96Mortal Kombat TrilogySuper Mario 64007: Goldeneye (N64)Pokemon Blue
3Nba Jam Trnmt EdtMadden NFL 97 [EA Sports]Star FoxWWE WarzonePokemon Red
4All pre-2000 titles onlyDonkey Kong Country 2007: Goldeneye (N64)NFL BlitzPokemon Snap
5Mortal Kombat IIMadden Nfl 97Diddy Kong RacingWCW/NWO RevengePokemon Yellow
6Donkey Kong CountryKiller InstinctStar Wars Shadow Of EmpireResident Evil 2Super Smash Bros.
7Lion KingNBA Live 97Final Fantasy VIIBanjo-KazooieWWE Attitude
8MystWave RaceTurok: Dinosaur HunterGran TurismoPokemon: Pinball
9Nba Live 96Star Wars Shadow Of EmpireCruisin USAMadden NFL 99 [EA Sports]The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
10Killer InstinctNba Live 96Wave RaceSuper Mario 64Mario Party
1196 NhlDonkey Kong Country 3NFL Qtrback Club 98Tekken 3Driver
12Yoshi's IslandMystMadden NFL 98 [EA Sports]Mario Kart 64Final Fantasy VIII
13Donkey Kong Country 2All pre-2000 titles onlyTomb Raider 2Metal Gear SolidMadden NFL 2000 [EA Sports]
14Toy Story [Disney's]Resident EvilNFL GameDay 98Yoshi's StoryStar Wars: Episode I: Racer
15NBA Live 95Mortal Kombat IIINba Live 981080 SnowboardingNFL Blitz 2000
16Primal RageTekken 2Madden Football 64NFL GameDay 99WWE Wrestlemania 2000
17Donkey Kong LandToy StoryRiven: The Sequel to MystCrash Bandicoot 3: WarpedReady 2 Rumble: Boxing
18College Football UsaUltimate Mk3Tomb RaiderTomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft007: Goldeneye (N64)
19Doom IISuper Mario RpgNBA HangtimeStar Wars: Rogue SquadronGran Turismo
20Batman ForeverPilotWingsFlight Simulator For Windows 95WCW Vs NWO:World TourSyphon Filter
Placement20002001200220032004
1Pokemon Gold/SilverMadden NFL 2002 [EA Sports]Grand Theft Auto: Vice CityMadden NFL 2004 [EA Sports]Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
2Pokemon StadiumGrand Theft Auto IIIMadden NFL 2003 [EA Sports]Need for Speed: UndergroundHalo 2
3Tony Hawk's Pro SkaterTony Hawk's Pro Skater 2Grand Theft Auto IIIPokemon: Ruby/SapphireMadden NFL 2005 [EA Sports]
4Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3Spider-Man: The MovieEnter the MatrixNeed for Speed: Underground 2
5Legend Zelda:Majora'sHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneMedal of Honor: FrontlineTony Hawk's UndergroundSpider-Man 2
6Madden NFL 2001 [EA Sports]Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyHarry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsThe SimsPokemon: FireRed/LeafGreen
7The SimsGran Turismo 3: A-SpecTony Hawk's Pro Skater 4True Crime: Streets of LANCAA Football 2005 [EA Sports]
8Diablo IIThe SimsKingdom Hearts [Disney, Square Enix]Medal of Honor: Rising SunStar Wars: Battlefront
9Pokemon YellowPokemon Gold/SilverNCAA Football 2003 [EA Sports]NCAA Football 2004 [EA Sports]NBA Live 05 [EA Sports]
10Perfect DarkPokemon Stadium 2The Two Towers [The Lord of the Rings]The Legend of Zelda: The Wind WakerMVP Baseball 2004 [EA Sports]
11Mario Party 2NBA Live 02 [EA Sports]007: NightfireNBA Live 04 [EA Sports]Tony Hawk's Underground 2
12WWE No MercyPokemon: Crystal VersionMortal Kombat: Deadly AllianceGrand Theft Auto: Vice CityNeed for Speed: Underground
13WWE SmackdownMax PayneWarCraft III: Reign of ChaosThe Return of the King [The Lord of the Rings]NFL Street
14Gran Turismo 2Halo: Combat EvolvedTony Hawk's Pro Skater 3Mario Kart: Double Dash!!Call of Duty: Finest Hour
15007: The World is Not EnoughFinal Fantasy XHalo: Combat EvolvedSoulCalibur IIThe Sims 2
16Donkey Kong 64Super Mario AdvanceMax PayneNBA Street Vol. 2Shrek 2
17WWE Smackdown 2Madden NFL 2001 [EA Sports]SOCOM: U.S. Navy SealsSplinter Cell [Tom Clancy's]NFL 2K5 [ESPN]
18RollerCoaster TycoonSuper Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Mario SunshineRockstar Games Double Pack: Grand Theft Auto: Grand Theft Auto III + Grand Theft Auto: Vice CityThe Incredibles
19Final Fantasy IXNBA Live 2001 [EA Sports]The SimsThe Simpsons: Hit & RunFight Night 2004 [EA Sports]
20NFL 2K1 [Sega Sports]Luigi's Mansion007: Agent Under FireFinal Fantasy X-2SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie [Nickelodeon]
Placement20052006200720082009
1Madden NFL 06 [EA Sports]Madden NFL 07 [EA Sports]Guitar Hero III: Legends of RockRock BandCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
2Star Wars: Battlefront IIGears of WarMadden NFL 08 [EA Sports]Guitar Hero: World TourWii Fit
3Call of Duty 2NCAA Football 07 [EA Sports]Guitar Hero IIWii FitNew Super Mario Bros.
4Need for Speed: Most WantedGuitar Hero IICall of Duty 4: Modern WarfareGuitar Hero III: Legends of RockMadden NFL 10 [EA Sports]
5Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the SithLEGO Star Wars II: The Original TrilogyHalo 3Madden NFL 09 [EA Sports]Wii Fit Plus
6NCAA Football 06 [EA Sports]Call of Duty 3Wii PlayWii PlayWii Sports Resort
7Gran Turismo 4: The Real Driving SimulatorCarsRock BandCall of Duty: World at WarGuitar Hero: World Tour
8Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasNeed for Speed: CarbonAssassin's CreedGrand Theft Auto IVHalo 3
9NBA Live 06 [EA Sports]Kingdom Hearts II [Disney, Square Enix]Pokemon: Diamond/PearlMario Kart: WiiRock Band 2
10LEGO Star WarsFight Night: Round 3 [EA Sports]Super Mario GalaxySuper Smash Bros. BrawlMario Kart: Wii
11Midnight Club 3: DUB EditionThe Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionMario Party 8Rock Band 2Wii Play
12Pokemon: Emerald VersionGhost Recon: Advanced Warfighter [Tom Clancy's]NCAA Football 08 [EA Sports]Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareAssassin's Creed II
13The Sims 2The Legend of Zelda: Twilight PrincessWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008: Featuring ECWGears of War 2Resident Evil 5
14Tony Hawk's American WastelandCall of Duty 2World of Warcraft: Burning CrusadeStar Wars: The Force UnleashedCall of Duty: World at War
15MVP Baseball 2005 [EA Sports]Need for Speed: Most WantedTransformers: The GameGuitar Hero: AerosmithUFC 2009: Undisputed
16Resident Evil 4New Super Mario Bros.Spider-Man 3Fallout 3The Beatles: Rock Band
17NintendogsFinal Fantasy XIIThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight PrincessLEGO Indiana Jones: The Original AdventuresDJ Hero
18Need for Speed: Underground 2NintendogsGod of War IIMario & Sonic at the Olympic GamesBatman: Arkham Asylum
19World of WarcraftWWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007NintendogsNCAA Football 09 [EA Sports]Left 4 Dead 2
20Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory [Tom Clancy's]Guitar HeroBioshockRainbow Six: Vegas 2 [Tom Clancy's]NCAA Football 10 [EA Sports]
Placement20102011201220132014
1Call of Duty: Black OpsCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Black Ops IIGrand Theft Auto VCall of Duty: Advanced Warfare
2Halo: ReachThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimHalo 4Call of Duty: GhostsDestiny
3Wii Fit PlusMadden NFL 12 [EA Sports]Madden NFL 13 [EA Sports]Madden NFL 25: 1989 - 2014 [EA Sports]Grand Theft Auto V
4Madden NFL 11 [EA Sports]Battlefield 3Assassin's Creed IIIBattlefield 4Madden NFL 15 [EA Sports]
5New Super Mario Bros.Call of Duty: Black OpsBorderlands 2Assassin's Creed IV: Black FlagWatch Dogs
6Red Dead RedemptionJust Dance 3NBA 2K13NBA 2K14NBA 2K15
7Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Gears of War 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Black Ops IISuper Smash Bros. (2014)
8Pokemon: HeartGold/SoulSilverBatman: Arkham CityJust Dance 4Pokemon X/YTitanfall
9Assassin's Creed: BrotherhoodPokemon Black/WhiteMass Effect 3Disney InfinityFIFA 15 [EA Sports]
10NBA 2K11Assassin's Creed: RevelationsSkylanders: GiantsBioshock: InfiniteMinecraft
11Battlefield: Bad Company 2Mortal Kombat (2011)The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimFIFA 14 [EA Sports]Far Cry 4
12Just Dance 2NBA 2K12FIFA Soccer 13 [EA Sports]Skylanders: Swap ForceCall of Duty: Ghosts
13Super Mario Galaxy 2New Super Mario Bros.Diablo IIIInjustice: Gods Among UsPokemon: Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
14God of War IIINCAA Football 12 [EA Sports]NCAA Football 13 [EA Sports]The Last of UsMiddle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
15Starcraft II: Wings of LibertyJust Dance 2New Super Mario Bros.MinecraftDragon Age: Inquisition
16Fallout: New VegasL.A. NoireBattlefield 3Batman: Arkham OriginsDisney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes
17Wii Sports ResortZumba FitnessNBA 2K12Just Dance 2014Mario Kart 8
18Mario Kart: WiiFIFA Soccer 12 [EA Sports]Far Cry 3NCAA Football 14 [EA Sports]NBA 2K14
19NCAA Football 11 [EA Sports]Skylanders: Spyro's AdventureLEGO Batman 2: DC Super HeroesNBA 2K13Diablo III
20Final Fantasy XIIIMarvel vs. Capcom 3Skylanders: Spyro's AdventureTomb Raider (2013)Skylanders: Trap Team
Placement20152016201720182019
1Call of Duty: Black Ops IIICall of Duty: Infinite WarfareCall of Duty: WWIIRed Dead Redemption IICall of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
2Fallout 4Battlefield 1NBA 2K18Call of Duty: Black Ops 4NBA 2K20
3Grand Theft Auto VThe Division [Tom Clancy's]Destiny 2NBA 2K19Madden NFL 20 [EA Sports]
4Star Wars: Battlefront (2015)NBA 2K17Madden NFL 18 [EA Sports]Super Smash Bros. UltimatePokemon: Sword/Shield
5Madden NFL 16 [EA Sports]Madden NFL 17 [EA Sports]The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildMadden NFL 19 [EA Sports]Borderlands 3
6NBA 2K16Grand Theft Auto VGrand Theft Auto VMarvel's Spider-Man (Sony)Mortal Kombat 11
7Mortal Kombat XPokemon: Sun/MoonGhost Recon: Wildlands [Tom Clancy's]Far Cry 5Star Wars: Jedi: Fallen Order
8DestinyOverwatchStar Wars: Battlefront II (2017)God of War (2018)Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
9Halo 5: GuardiansThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimSuper Mario OdysseyMonster Hunter: WorldKingdom Hearts III [Disney, Square Enix]
10Batman: Arkham KnightCall of Duty: Black Ops IIIMario Kart 8Pokemon: Let's GoThe Division 2 [Tom Clancy's]
11Battlefield: HardlineFIFA 17 [EA Sports]Assassin's Creed: OriginsGrand Theft Auto VMario Kart 8
12FIFA 16 [EA Sports]Final Fantasy XVFIFA 18 [EA Sports]Assassin's Creed: OdysseyGrand Theft Auto V
13Call of Duty: Advanced WarfareDoom (2016)For HonorMario Kart 8Red Dead Redemption II
14Dying LightDark Souls IIIInjustice 2Fallout 76Minecraft
15MinecraftMinecraftHorizon: Zero DawnFIFA 19 [EA Sports]Anthem
16Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom PainUncharted 4: A Thief's EndMass Effect: AndromedaBattlefield VFIFA 20 [EA Sports]
17The Elder Scrolls: OnlineFar Cry: PrimalResident Evil 7: BiohazardSuper Mario OdysseyResident Evil 2 (2019)
18Dragon Ball: XenoverseTitanfall 2Rainbow Six: Siege [Tom Clancy's]Dragon Ball FighterZLuigi's Mansion 3
19LEGO: Jurassic WorldWatch Dogs 2OverwatchThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildDays Gone
20The Witcher 3: Wild HuntGears of War 4Middle-Earth: Shadow of WarCall of Duty: WWIINew Super Mario Bros.
Placement202020212022
1Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold WarCall of Duty: VanguardCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)
2Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)NBA 2K22Elden Ring
3NBA 2K21Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold WarNBA 2K23
4Animal Crossing: New HorizonsMadden NFL 22 [EA Sports]Madden NFL 23 [EA Sports]
5Madden NFL 21 [EA Sports]Pokemon: Brilliant Diamond/Shining PearlGod of War: Ragnarok
6Assassin's Creed: ValhallaBattlefield 2042LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
7The Last of Us: Part IIMarvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Sony)Pokemon: Scarlet/Violet
8Grand Theft Auto VMario Kart 8FIFA 23 [EA Sports]
9Ghost of TsushimaGrand Theft Auto VPokemon Legends: Arceus
10Doom EternalResident Evil: VillageHorizon II: Forbidden West
11Mario Kart 8MLB: The Show 21Grand Theft Auto V
12Super Mario 3D All-StarsFar Cry 6WWE 2K22
13Final Fantasy VII: RemakeSuper Mario 3D WorldTiny Tina's Wonderlands
14Marvel's AvengersFIFA 22 [EA Sports]MLB: The Show 22
15Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Sony)MinecraftMario Kart 8
16MinecraftAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsCall of Duty: Vanguard
17NBA 2K20NBA 2K21NBA 2K22
18Super Smash Bros. UltimateAssassin's Creed: ValhallaGran Turismo 7
19FIFA 21 [EA Sports]Super Smash Bros. UltimateRed Dead Redemption II
20Red Dead Redemption IIBack 4 BloodKirby and the Forgotten Land

Digital Leader Panel Participating PublishersNintendo eShop Digital Full GamesPlayStation Digital Full GamesSTEAM Digital Full GamesXbox Digital Full Games
Activision Blizzard (Corp)YesYesNoYes
AtlusYesYesYesYes
Bandai Namco EntertainmentYesYesYesYes
Capcom USAYesYesYesYes
Crystal DynamicsNoYesYesYes
Disney Interactive StudiosYesYesYesYes
EidosNoYesYesYes
Electronic ArtsYesYesNoYes
GameMillYesYesYesYes
Gearbox PublishingYesYesYesYes
Konami Digital Ent.YesYesYesYes
Krafton Games UnionNoYesYesYes
Marvelous EntertainmentYesYesYesYes
Microsoft (Corp)NoYesYesYes
NCsoftNoNoYesNo
PlaionYesYesYesYes
SegaYesYesYesYes
Sony (Corp)NoYesYesYes
Splash DamageYesYesYesNo
Square Enix Inc (Corp)YesYesYesYes
Take-Two Interactive (Corp)*YesYesYesYes
UbisoftYesYesYesYes
Warner Bros. GamesYesYesYesYes
Wizards of the CoastNoYesYesYes
* Digital revenues not included for Sep 2023 through Nov 2023

There's also updated month to month data from January 2010 onwards, which I'll be updating in the threads found at the link below

NPD Archives
 
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Looking at charts of 1997 and 1998 and we could think that N64 was the clear market leader in the US ;)
 
That N64 software domination in the latter half of the 90s was crazy. It might have fallen behind the PS1 hardware-wise in the U.S. after having a slight lead up through August 1997 (the N64 did far better in the U.S. than elsewhere), but those attach rates for its biggest games were really high throughout the generation, enough to keep it relatively competitive in terms of software sales. Of course, those being revenue charts, the N64's cartridges being $10-20 more expensive than the average PS1 game helps their placement, but still. Four of the top five best-selling games of that generation in the U.S. in terms of copies sold (excluding Game Boy games) were N64 titles. Nintendo has usually had at least a few games each system that had attach rates far better than anything else in the industry, and that's even excluding games that didn't start off bundled with the system they were on.

Nintendo software did kind of fall off the following generation as PlayStation really blew up with the PS2's dominance. The GBA did very well, but its games cost a good bit less so that effects their ability to rank high on a revenue chart. But GameCube games were the same price as PS2 & Xbox games, yet very few of them did well. I don't know if we ever got final numbers for Gen 6 games, but I recall Smash being the best-selling GC game in the U.S. and it sold something like 4M copies, a good bit less than the roughly 6M Super Mario 64 sold. Still a solid attach rate, but the GC just didn't have the install base.

The big surprises in Gen 6 were GTA and Halo. IIRc, San Andreas ended up becoming the best-selling console game ever, excluding games originally bundled with their system (so excluding SMB, Tetris, Super Mario World, etc.). Halo & Halo 2 had almost Nintendo-level attach rates for the Xbox. I remember seeing somewhere that Halo CE was attached to like half of all Xboxes sold in the system's first year, and IIRC something like 40% or more of Xbox owners in the U.S. ended up getting a copy of Halo 2.

But the 21st century in general has seen third-party AAA games dominate the software charts, which makes sense given that those games have typically been multiplatform releases since Gen 6, releasing on both PS and Xbox, and combined PlayStation & Xbox hardware sales have consistently stayed over 60M units combined over the previous three generations, giving third parties a huge install base to benefit from. The console game landscape since the turn of the century has been very different from how it was in the 80s & 90s when exclusives were the norm. Still, Nintendo has managed to reassert themselves with the Switch, which not only had amazing hardware sales, but also outstanding software sales, so there's been more Nintendo games on the charts over the past few years than there had been for much of this century, including at least a couple that place in the Top 10. Sony also really stepped up their first-party efforts with the PS4.
 
N64 was the most NA centric Nintendo console.
1999 have even more Nintendo games than 2009 !

I found impressive How Brain Training was top 5 almost everywhere in Europe in 2007 while it's nowhere to be found in the USA where It's not even the best selling DS game of 2007.

@Welfare do you known why there is a game called "All pre-2000 titles only" at #4 in 1995.

There is also 2 pokemon red in 1999 for some reason.
 
Astral_lion02 said:
N64 was the most NA centric Nintendo console.
1999 have even more Nintendo games than 2009 !

I found impressive How Brain Training was top 5 almost everywhere in Europe in 2007 while it's nowhere to be found in the USA where It's not even the best selling DS game of 2007.

@Welfare do you known why there is a game called "All pre-2000 titles only" at #4 in 1995.

There is also 2 pokemon red in 1999 for some reason.
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I asked Mat for clarification. Will wait on that
 
I recall similar charts were shared 4 or so years ago, though for some reason a few of the years didn't have 19/20. Nice to have more current and complete information.
 
Seeing games like Roller Coaster Tycoon and Riven in the OP give me life.

Shadow of the Void said:
That N64 software domination in the latter half of the 90s was crazy. It might have fallen behind the PS1 hardware-wise in the U.S. after having a slight lead up through August 1997 (the N64 did far better in the U.S. than elsewhere), but those attach rates for its biggest games were really high throughout the generation, enough to keep it relatively competitive in terms of software sales. Of course, those being revenue charts, the N64's cartridges being $10-20 more expensive than the average PS1 game helps their placement, but still. Four of the top five best-selling games of that generation in the U.S. in terms of copies sold (excluding Game Boy games) were N64 titles. Nintendo has usually had at least a few games each system that had attach rates far better than anything else in the industry, and that's even excluding games that didn't start off bundled with the system they were on.
Click to expand...

I've always championed that the best of the N64's library easily matched up with the best of the PS1's library. The problem is that once you get past the top ~20 N64 games, things start to go downhill very quickly.
 
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OoT sold 2.5 Mio units in its first two months. Although this is fine, I think its crazy that this was enough for being number one of the year. Mario 64 in 1996 should be even lower
 
Josh5890 said:
I've always championed that the best of the N64's library easily matched up with the best of the PS1's library. The problem is that once you get past the top ~20 N64 games, things start to go downhill very quickly.
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IMO, very few games from that generation aged well at all, and even at the time there weren't as many great games as there were in the 8-bit & 16-bit era. This is an opinion I've consistently maintained since the 90s. It's clear that the industry writ large at the time wanted to immediately transition fully to 3D (there were a few that still used older sprite-based graphics for some games, mainly Capcom), but since it was something new they struggled to make good use of the extra dimension. It's understandable to an extent as it was unfamiliar territory, something that few devs had any experience with at the time, and only certain genres immediately lent themselves to 3D (e.g., FPS games, racing games) or had gameplay largely independent of whether they were 2D or 3D (e.g., turn-based RPGs like Final Fantasy). Certain limitations didn't help things, either (e.g., the original PS1 controller not even having analog sticks). But at the time I was not really wowed by the switch to 3D like others were, mainly because the gameplay experiences were often so rough around the edges, plagued with issues like terrible controls & cameras. That so many games looked ugly as sin even at the time didn't help (the ones that went for a cartoon-y look fared the best visually).

But I did feel that Nintendo and Rare were the exception. They seemed to have a knack for developing compelling 3D experiences. Nintendo was also the first to fully understand the need for an analog stick. Moving Mario around was immediately intuitive: you push the stick in a direction, and Mario moves in that direction. So many PS1 games had clunky and unintuitive controls, because devs were having to design controls for a 3D game on what was for all intents and purposes a modified SNES controller. I despised tank controls in particular, I still despise them (my reaction when playing the RE5 demo on the 360 was along the lines of "Why in the hell are they still using tank controls? Nope. I'm out."), and I will never understand the nostalgia for them. While I had a PS1 for Final Fantasy and a couple of other games, the bulk of my interest was in the N64.
 
Crazy how big wrestling games were in the 90s. Truly the golden era for that genre and something they've strived (and failed) to return to since.

Astral_lion02 said:
I found impressive How Brain Training was top 5 almost everywhere in Europe in 2007 while it's nowhere to be found in the USA where It's not even the best selling DS game of 2007.
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It's going to be harder in a revenue chart when titles like Brain-Age 1/2 and Big Brain Academy launched at $19.99 MSRP.

This also helps explain the 90s N64 domination here as games usually ranged $59.99-79.99 new while PS1 games were $39.99-49.99. We have a lot more price consistency today between platforms than any previous generation really.
 
For North Americans, N64 vs. PS1 was much more of a horse race. The PS1 didn't totally overtake the N64 until later in the generation and also afterwards when they started selling cheap versions of the PS1 (after the PS2 already came out). The fact that the N64's library is so beloved among English speaking internet communities really shows how anglocentric online discussion can be, for better or worse (speaking as an American that grew up on the N64).
 
The lists for as of 2020 for reference
1995 - 1999 Top 20
2000- 2004 Top 20
2005 - 2009 Top 18
2010 - 2014 Top 20
2015 - 2019 Top 20
 
Those list for the nineties, at least, are quite different, showing Sonic 3D Blast, Frogger, etc. How did Circana recalculate those? A different way to extrapolate for the whole market?

By the way, there is still no info about the "All pre-2000 titles only" label?
 
Quoted by: Dax
1997:

7 Final Fantasy VII
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2002:

8 Kingdom Hearts
Click to expand...

2006:

9 Kingdom Hearts II
Click to expand...

2019:

9 Kingdom Hearts III
Click to expand...

2020:

13 Final Fantasy VII: Remake
Click to expand...

After Nomura's great/influential impact on FF7, which led to a perfect 7 for FF7, his director debut in KH led to 3 top 10's for KH (All numbered titles; In another timeline, Birth by Sleep, which is a numbered title game "Episode 0" would have its justice & move development to PS3 no matter how hard it would be for Osaka instead of PSP for better sales numbers worldwide), then returning to FF7 as its director for FF7R led to an original top 10 placement at 10, but due to an update (as of November 2023), it now places at 13. The circle & power of the one true tensai on display. Also, yes yes... 7 and 13. Irony yada yada.
 
2001 was the start of Sony putting their foot on the market properly. You see such a shift in the titles topping the charts.

Prior to that Nintendo always had a lot of software in the charts. They have done well to recover and be competitive again.
 
kwaogh said:
2001 was the start of Sony putting their foot on the market properly. You see such a shift in the titles topping the charts.

Prior to that Nintendo always had a lot of software in the charts. They have done well to recover and be competitive again.
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Again, these being revenue charts skew things, N64 games were way more expensive than PS1 games making N64 being more represented here in those years, and GB games basically non existent, during 2001-2006 GBA was the successful Nintendo platform but it had cheaper games, so they don’t appear here.

My point is that Nintendo never stopped being competitive in the US, and PS1 was more successful than these charts show.
 
Kaworu said:
Those list for the nineties, at least, are quite different, showing Sonic 3D Blast, Frogger, etc. How did Circana recalculate those? A different way to extrapolate for the whole market?

By the way, there is still no info about the "All pre-2000 titles only" label?
Click to expand...

Sorry for bumping this but I'm also curious. Was the mystery of that "all pre-2000 titles" answered?

also I noticed the ranking in OP's post for the 90's is fairly different than the old NPD tweet.
Did a recalculation happen later or something?

edit: also in the 1999 chart I'm a but confused with Pokemon Red\Blue and then Pokemon Red immediately after. I'd guess the first row was mean to be just "Pokemon Blue"
 
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We had this thread at the start of the year but with data back to 1995. Will merge this thread with that.
 
Got two things confirmed by Mat.

1. The Pokemon: Red/Blue in 1999 is only Pokemon Blue. Red and Blue being separated is a mistake.

2. "All pre-2000 titles only" in 1995 and 1996 is a holdover from when NPD transitioned from their beginning in the 80's data set to the beginning in 1995 data set. "All pre-2000 titles only" is the lump collection of all games for consoles that NPD were no longer actively tracking in 1995.
 
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