Game sales sank to a 20-year low in August 2019 in the United States, with overall consumer spend falling 18 per cent year-over-year. All sectors registered declines, with Nintendo Switch once again dominating the hardware charts. The performance was so poor across the board last month that it’s actually dragged down the entire year, which has now fallen six per cent when compared to 2018.

Madden NFL 20 was the best-selling game of the month, but it was legacy titles Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto V which filled the remaining slots in the top three. Marvel’s Spider-Man continued to keep swinging in 11th position, while Man of Medan just managed to make the best-sellers list in 19th place. There was no room for Remedy’s Control, which will surely disappoint publisher 505 Games, despite it launching right at the very tail of the month.

NPD Software Top 20: August 2019

Madden NFL 20** Minecraft*** Grand Theft Auto V Fire Emblem: Three Houses* Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* Super Mario Maker 2* Mario Kart 8* Mortal Kombat 11 Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege Astral Chain* Marvel’s Spider-Man The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* Red Dead Redemption 2 Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII** Age of Wonders: Planetfall Super Mario Party* Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order* New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe* The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

NPD PS4 Software Top 10: August 2019

Madden NFL 20** Minecraft*** Grand Theft Auto V Marvel’s Spider-Man Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII** Mortal Kombat 11 Red Dead Redemption 2 Days Gone MLB 19: The Show Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege

NPD Best Selling Games of 2019 So Far

Mortal Kombat 11 Kingdom Hearts III Madden NFL 20** Tom Clancy’s The Division 2** Anthem** Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* Resident Evil 2 2019 Grand Theft Auto V Red Dead Redemption II Days Gone

* Does not include digital sales

** Does not include PC digital sales

*** Minecraft does not include digital sales on PS4 and Xbox One