Switch Was 2021’s Best-Selling Console In US, Call Of Duty: Vanguard Was Best-Selling Game

With 2021 behind us, there’s still plenty of year-end sales numbers coming out as it relates to video games, and today, the NPD Group, which tracks sales figures for games, consoles, and gaming accessories, released both its December and 2021 round ups. 

Coming out on top of 2021 was the Switch, which the NPD Group’s Mat Piscatella revealed was the best-selling hardware in both unit and dollar sales in the U.S. today on Twitter. Switch was also December’s best-selling platform in units sold, and in terms of dollar sales, it tied the PlayStation 5 last month. This means that more Switch consoles were purchased, since the lowest-priced PS5 is more expensive than the highest-end Switch models. It is important to remember that purchasing a Switch now, despite the continuing shortage of chips, will be much more affordable than buying one later. 

Dec hardware dollar sales fell 3% in December compared with December 2020. They dropped to $1.3 billion. The full-year hardware spending in 2021 was $6.1 billion. This is 14% more than 2020. 

On the games side of things, Call of Duty: Vanguard, the latest in the long-running Activision Blizzard, err soon-to-be Xbox, franchise, was December’s best-selling game. According to Piscatella, Call of Duty became the most-sold video game franchise for 13 consecutive years in terms of tracked dollars sales. Halo Infinite was the number two best-selling game of December 2021, which is quite the feat considering many players didn’t purchase the game as it was available to download on Xbox Game Pass. 

Coming in at third was Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, which was not only December’s best-selling game on Switch, but the best-selling Switch game of 2021.

Here’s a look at the top 10 video games in December in the U.S.:

1. Vanguard: Call of Duty
2. Halo Infinite
3. Shining Pear, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond
4. Madden NFL 22
5. Battlefield 2042
6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 
7. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
8. Mario Party Superstars
9. NBA 2K22
10. Animal Crossing New Horizons

And here are 2021’s top 10 video games in the U.S.: 

1. Vanguard: Call of Duty
2. Black Ops in Cold War
3. Madden NFL 22
4. Shining Pearl, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond
5. Battlefield 2042
6. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
7. Mario Kart 8
8. Resident Evil: Village
9. The Show 21
10. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

Take a look at these top 20 lists. Also, platform-specific lists are available and more details about accessory spending in December 2021. be sure to check out Piscatella’s full thread here. Check out these top digital PS5 games and PS4 titles in 2021. Next, see the top December digital downloads to PlayStation 5!