It’s time once again for the monthly sales report, and the numbers don’t lie: people are still buying video games. Indeed, whether it was the new smash hit Elden Ring or the same cadre of titles you see on the bestseller list every month, it appears nothing will stop the masses from purchasing video games. Except, you know, the global hardware shortage. Or losing income due to the pandemic recession. Or losing it all in a crypto scam. But hey… video games.
On the Nintendo side, Pokémon Legends: Arceus has whelmed by selling like hotcakes, the third best-selling game of the month and the silver medalist of the year so far only behind Elden Ring (which is currently selling like hotcakes made by the Beatles). The rest of the Switch Top 10 is filled with the usual suspects: Mario Kart 8, Mario Party Superstars, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you know the drill. The most interesting result (which isn’t even that shocking) is that Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl has sold very well in the past 12 month Top 10 list while PLA still hasn’t entered. Obviously, BDSP had a two month head start and the benefit of a holiday season, but given that Legends had a better launch globally, one would think it would be entering the chart at least. Oh well. It’s sales, who cares? That’s right, EVERYBODY does.
US NPD PREMIUM GAMES – YTD 2022 Top 20 Sellers pic.twitter.com/oK9JronqFG
— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) March 11, 2022
US NPD PREMIUM GAMES – February 2022 Nintendo Platforms Top 10 Best-Sellers pic.twitter.com/ykZOEVCCIN
— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) March 11, 2022
US NPD PREMIUM GAMES – 12 Months Ending February 2022 Top 10 Sellers pic.twitter.com/9f3i4M7dVs
— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) March 11, 2022
But while people are buying video games, we must ask: are they still playing them? Like, there are so freakin’ many these days, half the ones I buy get shuffled into my backlog without being touched ever. We’ll have to commission an investigative team to get to the bottom of this one.
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Written by Amelia Fruzzetti
A writer and Nintendo fan based in Seattle, Washington. When not working for NinWire, she can be found eating pasta, writing stories, and wondering about when Mother 3 is finally going to get an official localization.
