By Sagar V. Mankar 
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 emerged as the best-selling video game of 2024 in the United States, according to Circana’s Mat Piscatella. The announcement, made on January 23 via Bluesky, highlights Black Ops 6’s exceptional performance, claiming the top spot in just over two months after its late October release. This achievement dethroned EA Sports College Football 25, which had dominated since July.
Following Black Ops 6, EA Sports College Football 25 secured the second position, while Helldivers 2 maintained its strong presence at third. Rounding out the top five best-sellers were Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero and NBA 2K25.
Video Game Market Insights for 2024
Circana’s report reveals that the U.S. video game market experienced a slight dip, with total revenue dropping 1.1% from 2023, amounting to $58.6 billion.
The decline stemmed mainly from a 25% reduction in hardware sales, which totaled $4.85 billion.
On the positive side, video game content sales grew 2%, reaching $50.6 billion—the second-highest figure in U.S. history, surpassed only by 2021’s $52 billion.
Consumer spending on gaming accessories also rose by 6%, contributing $3.16 billion to the market.
Notably, sports titles dominated the charts, with five of the top ten games being sports simulations. Besides College Football 25 and NBA 2K25, other sports titles like Madden NFL 25, EA Sports FC 25, and EA Sports MVP Bundle featured prominently.
Interestingly, seven of the top 20 games in 2024 were not new releases. Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto V, both over a decade old, remained fan favorites. Other past hits like Modern Warfare III, Elden Ring, and Hogwarts Legacy also continued to enjoy strong sales.
Here is the list of the top 20 games from December 30, 2023, to January 4, 2025 (Yearly):
Here is the list of the top 20 games from December 1, 2024, to January 4, 2025 (Monthly):
Platform Performance
The PlayStation 5 dominated hardware sales in 2024, leading both in dollar and unit sales. Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch followed, with Switch securing second place in unit sales.
Digital-only consoles gained traction, comprising 45% of all PS5 and 44% of Xbox Series sales for the year.
Concluding Thoughts
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s success underscores the franchise’s enduring appeal, marking its 16th consecutive year as the top-selling video game franchise in U.S. history.
Meanwhile, sports games and timeless classics continue to captivate audiences, reflecting the diverse preferences of gamers nationwide.