The top-selling games for March 2021 have been revealed. The top-ten list is more or less what one may have expected, with the rankings containing many of the hotly discussed and most-played games of the year. Perhaps most unsurprisingly, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War reigns supreme as the most-purchased game for the month.

While Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War was a likely candidate for the top of the list because of its past performance, being second place in February's sales, the rest of the winner's bracket is rounded out by newcomers Monster Hunter Rise and Outriders, which come in at second and third place respectively.

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Monster Hunter Rise may be the biggest surprise on the list owing to the fact that it's another Nintendo-exclusive Monster Hunter, meaning its impressive sales numbers are completely from Switch players. However, when fans consider that Monster Hunter: World, the previous installment in the series, was one of Capcom's best-selling games of all time, perhaps Rise's success was more or less a sure thing. Outriders likely owes its spot on the list to a massive amount of pre-orders, as it has been one of the most anticipated games of the year so far.

Most Purchased Games March 2021

The infamous Super Mario 3D All-Stars shot up a number of spots from last month given it was being removed from stores and the Nintendo eShop on March 31. This triggered a buying frenzy among fans who wanted to get the game and avoid paying exorbitant prices on eBay and similar sites. Speaking of Nintendo, the company fared better than any other on the list, capturing four spots on its own. Interestingly, all four Nintendo games did not include digital sales in their numbers, suggesting they all could have placed even higher on the list. It's possible that if digital downloads were included, Nintendo could have swept March and landed all the top spots.

An old familiar face, Minecraft rounded out the list. Despite this year marking the 10-year anniversary of the game's release, its popularity is still buoyed by YouTubers like MrBeast, who hosts ridiculous in-game competitions, and by its massive all-ages appeal among fans. Another game with enduring appeal is Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which saw so many gamers throughout the beginning of quarantine procedures and lockdowns worldwide. It managed to slide into the eighth spot a full year after its release.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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Source: NPD Group