January 2025 proved to be a relatively quiet month in the video game industry, mirroring the typical lull often seen at the start of the year. Only one new release managed to crack the top 20 best-selling games, and the familiar dominance of Call of Duty continued its reign. However, a potential comeback story emerged, defying initial expectations: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth.

Initially launched in February 2024, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth debuted at number two on Circana's U.S. sales charts but experienced a decline in subsequent months, ultimately ending the year at number 17. This performance led to speculation about its commercial success, particularly in comparison to other major RPG releases of the year and against Square Enix's own sales projections. The company's silence on specific sales figures fueled this uncertainty.

The game's initial PlayStation 5 exclusivity likely contributed to its comparatively lower sales compared to cross-platform titles. However, the January 2025 release on Steam dramatically altered its trajectory. The game soared to number three on the Circana charts, a significant jump from its December position at number 56. The Final Fantasy VII: Remake & Rebirth Twin Pack also saw a substantial rise, moving from number 265 to number 16.

This success wasn't confined to the U.S. market. Circana analyst Mat Piscatella highlighted the game's "fantastic" Steam launch, noting it was the best-selling game for the week ending January 25th, with the Twin Pack ranking third. This success strongly suggests a broader international upswing. The surge in sales following the PC release raises questions about Square Enix's future cross-platform strategies. Piscatella commented on the impact, stating that while publisher perception is complex, the consumer response was overwhelmingly positive, further emphasizing the advantages of PC releases for third-party publishers. He noted that releasing exclusively on a single platform is increasingly difficult without significant incentives from the platform holder.

The remainder of the top 20 remained largely predictable, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Madden NFL 25 taking the top spots. Donkey Kong Country: Returns for Nintendo Switch was the only new entry, reaching number eight based solely on physical sales due to Nintendo's non-disclosure of digital sales data. The resurgence of It Takes Two at number 20 was attributed to ongoing promotional efforts and consistent sales throughout the month, potentially linked to the upcoming release of Hazelight Studios' Split Fiction.

January 2025's overall game spending showed a decline compared to the previous year, partly attributed to a shorter tracking period (four weeks versus five). Total spending decreased by 15% to $4.5 billion, with accessories and content spending also experiencing significant year-over-year drops. Hardware sales also showed a considerable decrease across all major consoles. Despite the overall downturn, the PS5 remained the best-selling console in both units and dollar sales.

The top 20 best-selling games in the U.S. for January 2025 (based on dollar sales):

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
2. Madden NFL 25
3. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
4. EA Sports FC 25
5. Minecraft*
6. Marvel's Spider-Man 2
7. EA Sports College Football 25
8. Donkey Kong Country Returns*
9. Hogwarts Legacy
10. Sonic Generations
11. Helldivers II
12. Astro Bot
13. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
14. Super Mario Party Jamboree*
15. Elden Ring
16. Final Fantasy VII Remake & Rebirth Twin Pack
17. Mario Kart 8*
18. The Crew: Motorfest
19. UFC 5
20. It Takes Two

*Indicates that some or all digital sales are not included in Circana's data. Some publishers, including Nintendo and Take-Two, do not share certain digital data for this report.