Amazon Ranks Best-Selling Games of 2011

[Greg Tito]

Amazon Ranks Best-Selling Games of 2011

The list is dominated by shooters, but there are some pleasant surprises.

You might think it's a little early to compile a list of the best-selling games of 2011 - there being a couple weeks of the year left - but Amazon wants to be the first out of the gate. The online retailer released a list of both physical boxed copies of games sent out and downloadable games. While Modern Warfare 3 topped the physical chart, Electronic Arts can be happy that both Battlefield 3 and Battlefield Bad Company 2 ranked #1 and #2 in downloads from Amazon. Of course, that could just be because Activision doesn't have a digital distribution deal with Amazon, but let's not quibble.

There are other surprises with games released before 2011 still selling very well. Dancing games are always very popular, but Ubisoft's Just Dance 3 only placed 5 ranks higher than its predecessor on the boxed list. The Sims 3 did well, with both PC and Mac downloads making that list, and Civilization V is still being downloaded the year after it came out. MMOs continue to get audiences, with both Rift and FF XI placing well.

And a big shout out to Magicka from Paradox Interactive. I met Johan Pilestedt and Emil Englund early last year when they had just finished [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/previews/8582-Hands-on-Magicka-Preview] the tongue-in-cheek RPG with the fun magic system themselves, and making even the 10th rank on Amazon's downloadable list for 2011 couldn't have happened to two nicer Scandinavians.

Here is the full lists from Amazon, if you are interested:

Boxed Titles

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Just Dance 3
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Battlefield 3
Portal 2
Batman: Arkham City
Just Dance 2
Madden NFL 12
Gears of War 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops

Digital Titles

Battlefield 3
Battlefield Bad Company 2
Deus X: Human Revolution
Rift
The Sims 3(PC download)
Sid Meier's Civilization V
Final Fantasy 11
Dead Island
The Sims 3 (Mac download)
Magicka




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[LavaLampBamboo]

It's surprising to see Call of Duty Black Ops on there. Wait. Hang on, no it isn't.

Still, respect to Skyrim for climbing up that high so quickly. Couldn't quite beat Just Dance 3 though =D

 

[Kargathia]

... and the correct spelling and/or pronunciation of Deus Ex still eludes us. Good to see that hasn't changed either.

 

[Bob_Marley42]

Neat to see Magicka in the top 10 digital downloads.

 

[mental_looney]

Very nice to see Magicka up there awesome little game, 2 cod not surprising, 2 just dance though didn't know they were that popular.

 

[putowtin]

Just Dance 3...whi u sell so wel!?

cause the kid's love to dance (as do actors in the add's!)

 

[ResonanceGames]

Final Fantasy 11, really? Amazon's digital numbers must be crazy low...

 

[bobmus]

What's this Just Dance game? Is it only available in the US, or does it just not sell at all in the UK? I've never seen it advertised anywhere, noticed it being on sale or know of anyone that plays it. But then again, we had Zumba Fitness top of the charts for like 12 weeks...

 

[RaikuFA]

Just Dance outsells Skyrim and Portal 2?

What the hell people?

 

[Klumpfot]

'Deus X'? lern 2 spall!

As for the actual list, I'm rather surprised to see Final Fantasy 11 on there. It's very old by now, and when I got it on Steam and tried it earlier this year, I thought it was atrocious.

 

[LobsterFeng]

I'm glad Arkham City is on there. Someone told me that game didn't do so well, and I was starting to get worried.

 

[RaNDM G]

How can Final Fantasy 11 be anywhere NEAR this list?

 

[Tireseas_v1legacy]

It's surprising to see Call of Duty Black Ops on there. Wait. Hang on, no it isn't.

Actually, given that it came out Q4 of 2010, a significant number of copies in 2011 is not unlikely.

Just Dance outsells Skyrim and Portal 2?

What the hell people?

As depressing as it is, it's not unreasonable that a casual game would outsell two games that can only be described as being in the die hard genre. See Peggle.

All in all, no real surprises on the board for this year.

 

[alik44]

Wow modern warfare tops box retail what a shock. out of curiosity why the hell is FF11 still on the digital list

 

[TheCakeisALie87]

Some of these numbers may be skewed by the crazy deals amazon has had over the year. Often AAA titles are exempt from these (I've never seen MW3 on sale for example). Still I can't believe Just Dance beat Skyrim...Such is life.

 

[Turtleboy1017]

Just Dance outsells Skyrim and Portal 2?

What the hell people?

Have you bothered to play it? It's a well made, fun, easily accessible (Since everyone and their mother owns a wii) game that I have had tons and tons of fun with during get togethers with college friends.

Also Portal 2 is overrated, and Skyrim came out too late in the year to hit number 2.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

'Deus X'? lern 2 spall!

As for the actual list, I'm rather surprised to see Final Fantasy 11 on there. It's very old by now, and when I got it on Steam and tried it earlier this year, I thought it was atrocious.

You know, sometimes, I wouldn't be surprised if the Escapist had a little faded troll face behind the article. Just barely visible, but there nonetheless. Just for the times when they have a spelling error, they can call it off as successful troll.

Just Dance 3. Huh. Did not expect that. Well done them, I suppose.

 

[antipunt]

Wat is this Just Dance thing. I've been living in my hidey hole for too long apparently.

 

[Darth Lexx]

Looking at this list makes me believe that this year was not a good year for games or gamers. Black Ops is in the list...