Multiple states attempted to “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus pandemic throughout the month of March by shutting down non-essential businesses, and The NPD Group’s recent report (via Twitter) about the month’s best-selling games absolutely reflects this strange new world.
Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons, without the benefit of digital sales (the consolemaker doesn’t supply them to NPD), was the best-selling game of March 2020. According to analyst Mat Piscatella (also via Twitter), it’s impressive debut has already set a new sales record for the franchise, and it trails only Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Super Smash Bros. Brawl for best first month sales by a Nintendo-published title.
The game also helped sell a lot of people on the Switch, as Nintendo sold more Switch consoles in March of 2020 than they did when the system launched in March of 2017.
With gamers doing their part and staying home, the entire industry surged ahead alongside Tom Nook, Isabelle, K.K. Slider, and the rest of the Animal Crossing crew. Total game sales were up 34% over March 2019 ($739 million vs $550 million), while total hardware sales rose 63% ($461 million vs $282 million).
And Animal Crossing: New Horizons isn’t the only new release that’s popular with players right now. MLB The Show 20 (#3), Resident Evil 3 (#4), Doom Eternal (#6), and Persona 5 Royal (#7) all debuted in the Top Ten. Looking further down the list, new games such as Nioh 2 (#11), Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (#15), and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered (#20) all snuck into the Top 20.
You can find a complete breakdown of The NPD Group’s list of best-selling games from March 2020 after the break.
Best-Selling Games in March 2020
1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons**
2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
3. MLB The Show 20
4. Resident Evil 3
5. NBA 2K20
6. Doom Eternal**
7. Persona 5 Royal
8. Grand Theft Auto V
9. Borderlands 3
10. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe**
11. Nioh 2
12. Red Dead Redemption 2
13. FIFA 20
14. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate**
15. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX**
16. Madden NFL 20
17. Just Dance 2020
18. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
19. Mortal Kombat 11
20. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered** All Digital Sales Not Included
