The gaming landscape of 2024 saw a mix of expected triumphs and surprising contenders.  A new report from Circana confirms Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 as the year's best-selling title. While this dominance might not shock seasoned gamers, the full list of top performers reveals a more nuanced picture.

2024 was a year packed with major releases, including heavy hitters like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Helldivers 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Dragon's Dogma 2.  The year also witnessed the rise of unexpected indie gems, such as the poker-themed roguelike deck-builder Balatro, which garnered a Game of the Year nomination at The Game Awards 2024 alongside anticipated titles like Black Myth: Wukong and Metaphor: ReFantazio.  This demonstrates the ever-shifting nature of gaming trends, where innovation and established franchises often coexist.

According to Circana data and analysis by Mat Piscatella (shared with IGN), Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s top spot was followed by EA Sports College Football 25 and Helldivers 2. Sports titles dominated the top 10, with NBA 2K25, Madden NFL 25, EA Sports FC 25, and the EA Sports MVP Bundle all performing exceptionally well.  The continued success of Elden Ring, likely boosted by the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, is also noteworthy.  Fighting games were represented by Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero and Tekken 8, while major RPGs like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Hogwarts Legacy, and Dragon's Dogma 2 also secured their place among the top sellers.  The absence of Nintendo titles on this list might be attributed to Nintendo's policy of not sharing digital sales data with Circana.

The US gaming market in 2024 saw interesting shifts in spending habits. While overall content spending rose by 2% to $50.6 billion, hardware spending experienced a significant decline of 25% compared to 2023, reaching $4.9 billion. The PlayStation 5 emerged as the best-selling console in unit sales, followed by the Nintendo Switch. In terms of dollar sales, the Xbox Series X/S took second place. Notably, overall consumer spending on games decreased by 1.1%, totaling $58.7 billion.

Looking ahead to 2025, highly anticipated releases like Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Avowed are scheduled for the first few months.  The much-rumored Grand Theft Auto 6 is also expected to launch in 2025, with speculation suggesting a potential $100 price tag.