Top-Selling Games of March 2024
Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma 2 emerged as the best-selling game in March 2024, according to industry-tracking firm Circana. The action-RPG’s success propelled it to a high spot on the year-to-date chart. Other March releases like Rise of the Ronin and Princess Peach: Showtime! also made it into the top 10 for the month. Additionally, MLB: The Show 24, WWE 2K24, and Unicorn Overlord were among the new releases that entered the top 10.
Mobile Games Dominate Consumer Spending
According to Sensor Tower’s data, mobile games like Monopoly Go, Royal Match, Roblox, and Candy Crush Saga led consumer spending in March. These games have consistently been the top performers since February. Mat Piscatella, Circana’s executive producer for games reports, highlighted that mobile games accounted for 89% of the year-on-year growth in video game content spending during the month.
Decline in Hardware Spending
Interestingly, there was a significant drop in hardware spending in March, which can be attributed to the fact that all three major consoles on the market are well into their lifespans. However, Piscatella believes that this decline is not cause for concern, as Q1 historically does not contribute significantly to total annual hardware sales. He suggests that discounting, bundling, and iterative releases could potentially boost demand in the coming months.
Best-Selling Games of 2024 So Far
Helldivers 2 continues to hold the top spot on the list of best-selling games of 2024, followed by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. Dragon’s Dogma 2 made an impressive debut at third place on the year-to-date list, with sales over eleven times higher than its predecessor. Rise of the Ronin also secured a spot on the list, albeit at a lower rank. Remarkably, all the games already on the list shifted ranks down, except for Minecraft, which rose slightly.
Missing Games and Surprises
Despite the crowded release window on March 22, all three major titles, including Dragon’s Dogma 2, managed to make it onto Circana’s best-selling games list for the month. However, notable absences from the list include Ubisoft’s Skull & Bones, which dropped from fourth place last month, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong. The absence of Skull & Bones is particularly surprising, as live-service games typically have staying power.
Insights and Analysis
The success of Dragon’s Dogma 2 and the rise of Horizon Forbidden West on the best-selling games list demonstrate the impact of platform availability. Dragon’s Dogma 2 gained popularity not only due to its quality but also because it was available on multiple platforms. Similarly, Horizon Forbidden West’s significant jump up the list can be attributed to its PC launch, which drew more interest in the title.
Furthermore, the dominance of mobile games in consumer spending highlights the growing importance of the mobile gaming market. With mobile accounting for the majority of year-on-year growth in video game content spending, it is clear that developers and publishers should pay attention to this platform.
Overall, while hardware spending may have declined, the industry remains resilient and adaptable. As newer consoles continue to mature, factors like discounting, bundling, and iterative releases could help stimulate demand in the hardware market. Additionally, the success of certain games and the absence of others underscore the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry and the need for constant innovation and audience engagement.