The NPD Group has released their full North American sales data for July 2021, and it was a good month for the industry, with players spending $4.6 billion on games, additional content, and hardware, representing a year-on-year increase of 10 percent. On the hardware front, the PS5 came out on top in terms of dollar sales (rebounding after coming second to Xbox Series X/S in June) while Switch was again #1 in total unit sales. Overall, it was the most lucrative July for video game hardware sales since the heyday of the Wii in 2008.

　　For software, it was a good month for Nintendo, as The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD topped the chart and Monster Hunter Stories 2 came in at the third position. The only other new addition to the charts was NEO: The World Ends with You, which debuted at #16. Meanwhile, top June debut Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart dropped to #11, while Mario Golf: Super Rush actually held stronger at #6, perhaps showing the PS5 still doesn’t have the install base to give exclusives long-term legs.

　　Here are July's top 20 games according to NPD:

　　The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HDCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarMonster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of RuinMario Kart 8 DeluxeMinecraftMario Golf: Super RushMLB The Show 21Spider-Man: Miles MoralesCall of Duty: Modern WarfareSuper Smash Bros. UltimateRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2)Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s FuryMortal Kombat 11Neo: The World Ends with YouThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildPokémon Sword & ShieldResident Evil VillageAssassin’s Creed ValhallaAnd here are the top-10 best-selling games of 2021 thus far:

　　Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarMLB The Show 21Resident Evil VillageSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser's FurySpider-Man: Miles MoralesMonster Hunter RiseMario Kart 8 DeluxeMinecraftAssassin's Creed ValhallaAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsCan anything stop the Switch steamroller? When even a remaster of a game like Skyward Sword, which has its fans, but certainly isn’t universally praised, can top the charts, you know you’re hot.