Industry: The Top 5 Board Games & RPGs Are…

Based on U.S. Sales Data – Lets take a look at the Top 5 Board Games and Role Playing Games for the Fall of 2015. Things are changing out there!

When ICv2 posts Industry news it’s a good idea to take a look, as it’s based on retailer sales data:

Role Playing Games

via ICv2

“This chart of the ICv2 “Top 5 Role-playing Games” shows U.S. sales for the Fall season, September through December.  To develop this chart, we interviewed distributors, manufacturers, and retailers, then aggregated the information into a single ranking.”

1: Dungeons & Dragons
Wizards of the Coast

2: Pathfinder
Paizo Inc.

Advertisement

3: Star Wars
Fantasy Flight Games

4: Dragon Age
Green Ronin

5: Fantasy Age
Green Ronin

The number 1 and 2 spots are expected, but I do have to say I’m surprised to see D&D stay on top with so few product SKUs released each year compared to the tidalwave of competing Pathfinder products.  Also note the FFG Star Wars phenomenon extending it’s way into RPGs as well.

Board Games

via ICv2

“This chart of the ICv2 “Top 10 Hobby Channel Board Games” shows U.S. sales for the Fall season, September through December.  To develop this chart, we interviewed distributors, manufacturers, and retailers, then aggregated the information into a single ranking.”

1: Catan
Mayfair Games

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Get Tabletop, RPG & Pop Culture news delivered directly to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

2: Ticket to Ride
Days of Wonder

3: Pandemic
Z-Man Games

4: Dead of Winter
Plaid Hat Games

Advertisement

5: Mysterium
Asmodee

6:T.I.M.E. Stories
Asmodee

7: Star Wars: Imperial Assault
Fantasy Flight Games

8: Blood Rage
CoolMiniOrNot

9: Small World
Days of Wonder

10: Fury of Dracula
Fantasy Flight Games

Catan retains the crown – as usual.  Note that between Asmodee and FFG, they have 4 of the top 10. Remember that this January, Asmodee acquired the english language license rights to #1 Catan from Mayfair.  As a business unit, Asmodee/FFG is pretty much in the driver’s seat for boardgames at this point.

Advertisement

How does this line up with what you are seeing in your local gaming group?  

Author: Larry Vela

Dad, Gamer, Publisher, Pilot, Texan. All games all the time since junior-high. I started BoLS Interactive in 2006. I’m a lifelong tabletop & RPG gaming enthusiast, and internet publisher working to entertain and inform my readers every day. I've been playing RPGs and Tabletop Games since the 1970s. I'm been playing and covering Warhammer and Warhammer 40K for over 35 years.