Fortnite | Source: Epic Games

Gamers keep gaming on.

That’s the overwhelming message delivered in The NPD Group‘s Q1 2021 Games Market Dynamics: U.S. report. The latest data shows that gamers in the U.S. leveled up by spending $14.92 billion across console, PC, and mobile gaming, including hardware, software, accessories, and subscriptions — a 30% increase over the January-March of last year.

Hardware — driven by the continued dominance of the Nintendo Switch and new consoles, including Sony’s PlayStation 5 and the Microsoft Xbox Series X|S — spiked 82% in the quarter while accessories jumped 42%. NPD says that content spending reached $12.8 billion.

Related: Hold the Street Fighter Arcade Cabinet in the Palm of Your Hands

Q1 2021 best-selling and most-played games

  • Among Us
  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
  • Candy Crush Saga
  • Fortnite
  • Grand Theft Auto V
  • Mario Kart 8
  • Minecraft
  • Super Mario 3D All-Stars
  • Super Mario 3D World

The NPD Group’s Games Market Dynamics: U.S. report tracks consumer spend on the video game category, including purchases of video games hardware, content, and accessories while providing insight on trends across physical sales — both new and used — along with game rentals, digital sales, DLC, mobile gaming, and more.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

archivearrow-chevron-downarrow-chevron-left-greyarrow-chevron-leftarrow-chevron-rightarrow-fatarrow-left-blackarrow-left-whitearrow-right-blackarrow-rightarrow-roundedbookscalendarcaret-downclose-whiteclosedocumenteditorial-archiveeyefacebook-squarefacebookfilesgifthamburgerheadinghearthomeinstagram-squareinstagramlatestlinkedin-squarelinkedinmailmedia-inquiresmessagenewsopen-boxpagination-leftpagination-rightpauseplayprintproduct-archiverecent-productssearchsharesort-filterspotifysunteamtiktoktime_purpletimetrendingtvtwitter-squaretwitteryoutube