ICv2 Reports Disappointing Year For Hobby Games Channel: TTRPGs Down, D&D Declines 30%

According to ICv2, 2023 was a tough year for hobby game sales. The US and Canada market increased by just 1%, which was less than the rate of inflation, growing from $2.86 billion in 2022 to $2.89 billion in 2023.

The hobby game sales channel is defined as specialist game and card stores--it doesn't include Amazon, direct sales, etc. It does include Kickstarter.

Top Hobby Channel TTRPGs (2023)

1. Dungeons & Dragons (WotC)
2. Pathfinder (Paizo)
3. Cyberpunk Red (R. Talsorian)
4. World of Darkness (Renegade Game Studios)
5. Starfinder (Paizo)
6. Warhammer 40K (Cubicle 7)
7. Marvel Multiverse Roleplaying (Marvel)
8. Kobold 5E Books (Kobold Press)
9. Call of Cthulhu (Chaosium)
10. Pirate Borg (Free League)

The only two categories to grow in 2023 were collectibles and miniatures. All other categories--board games, card games, and roleplaying games--were down. ICv2 reports a 30% hobby store sales decline for Dungeons & Dragons specifically, citing the impending new edition and lackluster movie performance, and the tail end of a pandemic-fuelled high; they also report that while the OGL crisis of last year impacted some lifestyle gamers, newer players as a whole were oblivious to the situation. The other important element ICv2 mentioned was D&D's increasing move to digital, which impacted retail sales.

Older D&D players, says ICv2, are also migrating to other games, with Pathfinder as one of the major beneficiaries.

The last 6 years has seen much larger growth rates--partly fuelled by the pandemic--ranging from 10% to 30%. 2022 saw a 7% growth over 2021. Despite the small increase, 2023 represents the 15th year of growth for the overall market. ICv2 does predict a market decline in 2024, though.

ICv2 conducts periodical surveys and speaks to publishers, distributors, and retailers, along with publicly available company information and Kickstarter data.

 

[jerryrice4949]

True, but in-person games have a very different feel. For me, it’s the only way I play.

I am right with you. Online is great if you need it but nothing is better than an in person game with friends.

 

[MacDhomnuill]

As much as I would love to believe these numbers (both the good and the bad) the fact is sales numbers in the industry are very incomplete as the vast majority of companies don’t share any sales data. This likely points to overall trends of lower sales for WOTC and higher sales for GW, but it provides zero context as to why. I think we need to except that unless a huge number of companies band together to share sales figures we will never really have a good idea of whats happening beyond brick and mortar stores.

 

[Melfast]

I guess this is as good a time as any to ask who will be buying the upcoming announced releases.

6e?
Infinite Staircase?
Eve of Ruin?

I just bought Dark Tower and will be picking up Goodmans Caverns of Thracia. I’m still seeing upcoming sales in the hobby. I’ll be buying the new D&D material as well as RQ releases.

I'm planning to get pretty much all of it. The 2024 core books look to have much more new and improved content, and there is a lot of stuff coming out for 5e that I remember from the old days. No matter how many other games I bring my players to, DCC, Cypher System, PF2, Fate, etc., we always end up back at DND because that is what everyone wants to play. It may not be the best RPG out there, but it hits the way my groups like to play.

 

[Jd Smith1]

True, but in-person games have a very different feel. For me, it’s the only way I play.

I switched nearly four years ago, after gaming F2F since 1979. I will never go back. Online is, for me, the best thing in this hobby.

 

[Jd Smith1]

As much as I would love to believe these numbers (both the good and the bad) the fact is sales numbers in the industry are very incomplete as the vast majority of companies don’t share any sales data. This likely points to overall trends of lower sales for WOTC and higher sales for GW, but it provides zero context as to why. I think we need to except that unless a huge number of companies band together to share sales figures we will never really have a good idea of whats happening beyond brick and mortar stores.

Well, the economy is experienced a downturn, so we can be fairly confident that that will take a bite out of the whole.

 

[Dire Bare]

I have never seen Magic at a grocery or drug store, but it never occurred to me to look for it there. I will have to see what is tucked away in their small book area.

In my area, ALL of the local grocery and department stores carry Magic, Pokemon, Yugi-oh, and other CCGs, as do other non-hobby retailers like Barnes & Noble. If you have a Wal-Mart or Target in your area, they definitely carry CCGs.

Often, the pre-constructed decks and boxed sets either sell out fast, or get opened in store with the good stuff lifted. I usually only purchase boosters at non-hobby retailers, it makes grocery shopping a treat if I allow myself to buy ONE booster each trip. When I want a deck or a boxed set, I head down to my FLGS.

Target also carries a healthy selection of board games and RPGs . . . . but for RPGs, usually only the starter sets and core books for D&D and occasionally something like the new Avatar RPG. I've also seen Jeff Ashworth's "GameMaster's Book of" series there also at pretty good prices. I've picked up the new Avatar (last airbender) starter box there, as well as the new (ish) BattleTech miniatures game starter box.

How does this compete with a well-stocked FLGS? In my experience, not all the hobby stuff on grocery and big box store shelves is discounted very much, if at all. (Although I got a good deal on a couple of the "GameMaster" RPG titles at Target) And the selection at Target is usually pretty "entry level" compared to a well-stocked FLGS. But it is a part of the landscape an FLGS competes with, it isn't just online sales.

 

[Parmandur]

I have never seen Magic at a grocery or drug store, but it never occurred to me to look for it there. I will have to see what is tucked away in their small book area.

Sure, you can find Magic at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Target, or Wal-Mart.

 

[Parmandur]

In my area, ALL of the local grocery and department stores carry Magic, Pokemon, Yugi-oh, and other CCGs, as do other non-hobby retailers like Barnes & Noble. If you have a Wal-Mart or Target in your area, they definitely carry CCGs.

Often, the pre-constructed decks and boxed sets either sell out fast, or get opened in store with the good stuff lifted. I usually only purchase boosters at non-hobby retailers, it makes grocery shopping a treat if I allow myself to buy ONE booster each trip. When I want a deck or a boxed set, I head down to my FLGS.

Target also carries a healthy selection of board games and RPGs . . . . but for RPGs, usually only the starter sets and core books for D&D and occasionally something like the new Avatar RPG. I've also seen Jeff Ashworth's "GameMaster's Book of" series there also at pretty good prices. I've picked up the new Avatar (last airbender) starter box there, as well as the new (ish) BattleTech miniatures game starter box.

How does this compete with a well-stocked FLGS? In my experience, not all the hobby stuff on grocery and big box store shelves is discounted very much, if at all. (Although I got a good deal on a couple of the "GameMaster" RPG titles at Target) And the selection at Target is usually pretty "entry level" compared to a well-stocked FLGS. But it is a part of the landscape an FLGS competes with, it isn't just online sales.

For a lot of people, Target is probably the closest thing to a board game store they have access to.

 

[payn]

I have never seen Magic at a grocery or drug store, but it never occurred to me to look for it there. I will have to see what is tucked away in their small book area.

I know many retailers will keep them in a special area by the checkout counters due to chance of theft or other shenanigans. I say other because I work at HQ for a major retailer and we had to temporarily stop selling in some markets for awhile. Folks would line up before the store opened and often would get in fights with each other for first look and what not.

Side note, I've been out of the stores for nearly 20 years. Back when I left, it was the hot wheels people would line up for.

 

[Marc Radle]

I switched nearly four years ago, after gaming F2F since 1979. I will never go back. Online is, for me, the best thing in this hobby.

Totally cool!

I’m pretty much the exact opposite - to me there is simply nothing like playing in person, and online play is a distant second at best. Honestly, if online playing was my only option, I suspect I might stop playing …

BUT, these are all personal opinions / preference so neither is right … just how we each feel

Probably should get on topic though