The NPD report for August 2018 is now available, giving us a look at some hard data on video game sales numbers. Overall, spending on video games is up 26% year over year, software sales increased by 16% year over over, and the PlayStation 4 retains its top spot as the best selling console year-to-date, both accounting for units sold and dollars spent. The biggest growth driver for video game sales during August 2018 was accessories and game cards, growing 39% to set a record during this particular tracking period. Overall year-to-date video game spending has reached $7.5 billion total, with nothing declining during August 2018.
Madden NFL 19 took home top prize for being the highest selling game in August 2018, but Grand Theft Auto V managed to stay in the top five, despite its latest release having been nearly four years ago. God of War just barely manages to edge out Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which returns to the charts thanks to Xbox One backwards compatibility. So far Far Cry 5 leads the pack as the top selling game of 2018 year-to-date. Check out the full video games sales charts from the NPD:
RANKINGS

Physical and Full Game Digital for publishers in the Digital Leader Panel, ranked on dollar sales

Madden NFL 19 ^
Monster Hunter: World
Tom Clancy?s Rainbow Six: Siege
Grand Theft Auto V
Mario Kart 8*
Naruto To Boruto: Shinobi Striker
God of War
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
Super Mario Odyssey*
Minecraft
Crash Bandicoo...