2020’s best-selling games, consoles revealed, and once again things look great for CoD

Although hectic, the gaming industry has come out of 2020 with great success. The NPD group has released its charts displaying the best-selling games and consoles of last December, and of the entire year, for the United States, and it only confirms what most presumed.

With restrictions keeping many in the US indoors, 2020 saw a 27% increase in all gaming sales, compared to 2019, with over $58.9 billion being spent. Much of the credit goes to the Nintendo Switch, as it was the top-selling console last December and for all of 2020. The PlayStation 5 comes in second on the year, with it also being Sony’s top-selling platform ever for December. In total, 2020 saw over $5.3 billion in consoles sales, up 35% from 2019.

When it comes to games, the Call of Duty franchise yet again tops the charts. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has become the best-selling game of 2020, with 2019’s Modern Warfare managing to pull away with the number two spot. As for Nintendo software, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the third best-selling game of 2020, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario 3D All-Stars in the eight and nine spot, respectively.

CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 walked away from 2020 almost unscathed from its messy release – in terms of sales, of course. The controversial title was the second best-selling game of December 2020 and 19th for the entire year, with its digital sales not being accounted for.

Best selling games of December 2020

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
2. Cyberpunk 2077*
3. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
4. Spider-Man: Miles Morales
5. Madden NFL 21
6. Animal Crossing: New Horizons*
7. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe*
8. NBA 2K21
9. Immortals: Fenyx Rising
10. Super Mario 3D All-Stars*
11. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
12. Just Dance 2021
13. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity*
14. FIFA 21
15. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
16. Super Mario Odyssey*
17. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
18. Super Mario Party*
19. Ring Fit Adventure
20. Mortal Kombat 11

Best-selling games of 2020

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons*
4. Madden NFL 21
5. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
6. The Last of Us: Part II
7. Ghost of Tsushima
8. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe*
9. Super Mario 3D All-Stars*
10. Final Fantasy VII: Remake
11. Marvel’s Avengers
12. Spider-Man: Miles Morales
13. NBA 2K21*
14. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
15. FIFA 21
16. Mortal Kombat 11
17. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
18. MLB The Show 20
19. Cyberpunk 2077*
20. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2

*Digital Sales not included