One Year Later: D&D 5E PHB & MM Still On NYT Bestseller Lists

It's been year since D&D 5th Edition hit our store shelves (if we're counting the Starter Set); or since August 2014 since the Player's Handbook released. The D&D 5th Edition Monster Manual is hanging in at #7 on the "Games & Activities" bestsellers list at the New York Times, while the Player's Handbook is #3. Although it seems Minecraft has books, which are kicking both their asses. Who knew? (Lots of people, apparently!)

You can see the current list here. A snapshot is below.

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[smiteworks]

There is a reason Microsoft bought Minecraft for $2.5 Billion. I confess that I simply don't get it... but obviously a large number of other people do. Of all the crazes and fads, we could do much worse than Minecraft, though, so I applaud them for making something that spurs creativity.

 

[TerraDave]

I guess that's my cue.

On the Amazon gaming list, top 5 items right now are D&D:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/16211/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_1_3

And its that Zelda book that keeps hanging around.

PHB has hovered around 100 in overall sales (which is amazing for a game book) for months now. Its on sell again and at 76 right now:

http://www.amazon.com/Players-Handbook-Dungeons-Dragons-Wizards/dp/0786965606/ref=zg_bs_16211_1

 

[ccooke]

It's an interesting thing to note that Minecraft is a massive cultural phenomenon right now... and the PHB is selling better than all but the most popular book based on it.

 

[Paraxis]

This is cool and all but didn''t the Pathfinder core book stay in the top ten for years too?

 

[Mistwell]

This is cool and all but didn''t the Pathfinder core book stay in the top ten for years too?

Pathfinder was top of IcV2 for a while, but not Amazon or NYT for a long period of time. At least, not that I ever saw.

Some argue that's because they direct-sell so much of their stuff.

 

[Umbran]

On Amazon, the PHB is currently #76 in Books.

Not in Books > Games or somesuch. Just in Books, overall.

The DMG is running at #174 in Books. The MM comes in at #177.

 

[Mistwell]

You know there were a LOT of people that said, "Sure it had a good launch but talk to me again after a year and well see if it's still selling well then".

OK...here we are. Let's talk.

I personally don't think of this as a year (for me it's a year after the last core book comes out that's most relevant). But this is "A" point to talk about.

 

[R_Chance]

One thing about RPG books, multiple sets. I just bought a second set off Amazon a month ago (or so...) to go with the first set I bought at release. A 3rd PHB wouldn't be out of the question either (after the errata is included).

 

[TerraDave]

This is cool and all but didn''t the Pathfinder core book stay in the top ten for years too?

We have had threads on this...but I guess we like familiar topics here.

It might be in "top ten" gaming for a while. Not #1 or all top 3-5 (it has varied a bit). Its highest overall rating as far as I could tell (again, threads on this) was about 600.

But yes, they have a different sales model, business model, expectations, etc, etc.