Gaming’s most fun sales data is full of old and obscure games | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Gaming’s most fun sales data is full of old and obscure gamesComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...GamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentReportCloseReportPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ReportGaming’s most fun sales data is full of old and obscure gamesCircana analyst Mat Piscatella explains why he started posting lists of games that sold just one copy.Circana analyst Mat Piscatella explains why he started posting lists of games that sold just one copy.by Jay PetersCloseJay PetersSenior ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jay PetersJan 24, 2026, 4:00 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: Cath Virginia / The VergeJay PetersCloseJay PetersPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jay Peters is a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme.Every month, Circana video game analyst Mat Piscatella posts fascinating data about video game sales on Bluesky, highlighting trends like November’s historically bad month for game hardware and Battlefield 6’s big launch in October. But he doesn’t just share data about what is selling the most; as of late, he’s also posted delightful lists of games that have sold just a single physical copy over a certain period of time, and the lists often include retro games that take me down memory lane or titles that I didn’t even know existed.The list of games that sold one physical copy in October, for example, includes the Xbox 360 version of Burnout Paradise and Hasbro Family Game Night 3 for the PS3. On Thursday, Piscatella posted the “2025 Circana Thread for Sickos” highlighting games that only sold one physical unit over the whole year across various handhelds and consoles.That list of games that sold a single unit in October was born out of a question from a user on Bluesky, Piscatella tells The Verge. “People seemed to enjoy the combination of journey down memory lane and the treasure hunting idea of these games being out there somewhere,” Piscatella says. Then people started asking him about it, so he thought it’d be fun to keep doing it.Circana is able to track the data because it has agreements with “all major retailers” that let it compile and analyze point-of-sale data, Piscatella says. “I​​f a retailer’s point-of-sale system scans a product as a sale, it will show up in the data.” That means all the games he has mentioned in these threads “had one new unit floating around out there somehow that was sold through a register or via an online purchase. Perhaps it was a unit that had been lost somewhere in the back, or was buried under a display, or who knows.”RelatedVideo game hardware sales had a historically bad November in the USI am dying to know who purchased a new Wii U in SeptemberWhile it’s fun to look back and laugh at some of the games people bought — I feel sorry for the poor soul who purchased Metroid: Other M for the Wii last year — people buying an older, obscure game from a store is more common than you might think, Piscatella says. “There were more than 1,000 games across all platforms (including PC) that sold between one and five new physical units in the US during 2025, while over 3,500 different games sold at least one new physical unit at retail last year overall,” according to Piscatella. “Retailers have all kinds of stuff hidden away in those stores of theirs.”I asked Piscatella how long he plans to continue making the threads highlighting games selling just one copy. “So long as it stays fun, I reckon,” he says. “But who knows.”Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jay PetersCloseJay PetersSenior ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jay PetersEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingReportCloseReportPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ReportMost PopularMost PopularTesla finally kills Autopilot in a bid to boost FSD subscriptionsWhy this winter storm will likely be a wild oneClaude Code is suddenly everywhere inside MicrosoftICE has killed another person in MinneapolisSony announces its first turntables in yearsThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Circana analyst Mat Piscatella’s recent data-driven explorations within the video game sales landscape, specifically his publicly shared threads on Bluesky, reveal an unexpected and arguably intriguing facet of the industry’s consumer behavior. These threads, focused on games that sold only one physical copy over a defined period, have captured attention for their uncovering of hidden gems and a counterintuitive reflection of market trends. Piscatella’s initiative stems from user inquiries regarding the presence of obscure titles within retail inventories. The genesis of these threads began with a user’s interest in the “treasure hunting” aspect of locating these rarer games, prompting Piscatella to dedicate resources to tracking and highlighting these unique sales occurrences.

The process of data collection relies on Circana’s existing agreements with major retailers, allowing for the systematic capture of point-of-sale data, providing a direct account of product sales. This methodology—a scan of a product as a sale—offers a granular view into consumer choices, often bypassing traditional sales figures that focus solely on top performers. The data reveals a significant number of titles, exceeding 1,000 across all platforms (including PC) that sold between one and five new physical units in 2025. Furthermore, over 3,500 different games sold at least one new physical unit at retail during that same year. This vast collection underscores the ongoing presence of older titles within retail stores, frequently buried or overlooked, reflecting a dynamic retail environment beyond purely digital distribution.

The selection of games highlighted in these threads presents a fascinating picture of consumer preferences. Instances such as the sale of Burnout Paradise (Xbox 360) and Hasbro Family Game Night 3 (PS3) demonstrate a continued appeal to nostalgic titles. The revelation that a copy of Metroid: Other M for the Wii was purchased is a noteworthy example, highlighting the diverse tastes within the gaming community—a willingness to explore even titles considered less successful. The continued interest in older, less-popular games, even after substantial time has passed, suggests that emotional connection, sentimental value, and the thrill of discovery outweigh traditional metrics of success.

Mat Piscatella’s decision to continue producing these threads is predicated on their ongoing ability to generate engagement and offer a unique perspective on the market. The continuation of this initiative underscores a pragmatic approach—maintaining it as long as it remains a genuinely interesting and valuable undertaking. These threads are representative of less popular, yet significant sales data, offering a window into the often-hidden behavior of retailers and the diverse tastes of gamers. The continued pursuit of these data points—revealing the presence of seemingly “lost” games—provides an insightful commentary on market dynamics and consumer preferences within the video game industry.