Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 was the top-selling game in the US in 2012, according to new data released by retail monitor the NPD Group.
Activision's title was one of four first-person shooters to make a list of the ten best-selling games in North America last year, the others being Halo 4 - the only platform exclusive title on the chart – at No.3, Borderlands 2 at No.7 and November 2011 release Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 at No.8.
2012 was also a strong year for sequels and annual franchise updates – not one new IP made the top ten.
Madden NFL 13 was the second best-selling game of 2012 in the US, while fellow sports title FIFA 13 came in at No.10.
Assassin's Creed III, Just Dance 4 and NBA 2K13 placed at No.4, No.5 and No.6 respectively, while Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes was at No.9.
Two titles from publishers Activision, EA, Ubisoft and 2K Games made the top ten, as well as one from each of each of Microsoft and Warner.
Top 10 games of 2012
1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (360, PS3, PC, Wii U)
2. Madden NFL 13 (360, PS3, Wii, Vita, Wii U)
3. Halo 4 (360)
4. Assassin's Creed III (360, PS3, PC, Wii U)
5. Just Dance 4 (360, PS3, Wii, Wii U)
6. NBA 2K13 (360, PS3, Wii, PC, Wii U, PSP)
7. Borderlands 2 (360, PS3, PC)
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC)
9. Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (360, PS3, Wii, PC, 3DS, DS, Vita)
10. FIFA Soccer 13 (360, PS3, Wii, Wii U, Vita, 3DS, PSP)
2013 looks set to be a particularly interesting year for games; there are plenty of high-profile releases due in the next few months, then there’s the expected launch of next-generation consoles, and hopefully an exciting Wii U holiday lineup in which Nintendo brings out some big-hitters. Check out our list of the 100 most anticipated games of 2013.
Top 10 games of December 2012
1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (X360, PS3, Wii U, PC)
2. Just Dance 4 (X360, Wii, Wii U, PS3)
3. Halo 4 (X360)
4. Assassin's Creed III (X360, PS3, Wii U, PC)
5. Madden NFL 13 (X360, PS3, Wii, PS Vita, Wii U)
6. Far Cry 3 (X360, PS3, PC)
7. NBA 2K13 (X360, PS3, Wii, Wii U, PSP, PC)
8. Skylanders Giants (X360, Wii, PS3, 3DS, Wii U)
9. New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS)
10. FIFA Soccer 13 (X360, PS3, Wii, PS Vita, 3DS, Wii U, PSP)
