Turnover with board games in 2024 in Germany stable
Revenue from board games and puzzles in Germany from January to August 2024 inclusive remained almost stable compared to the previous year. It fell by 0.1 percent. This was announced by the Association of Game Publishers.
The revenue from board games and puzzles (-0.1 percent) exceeded the overall development of the industry. The revenue of the German toy market fell by 4.9 percent from January to August 2024.
If you look more closely at the board games and puzzles segment, it becomes clear that revenue from games increased (+0.9 percent) while revenue from puzzles decreased (-6.8 percent). The game publishers see this as positive. “Board games are increasingly becoming a hobby for more people,” says Herrmann Hutter, chairman of the industry association. From January to August 2023, revenue from board games and puzzles rose by ten percent. More on this in our article from last year.
Collectible cards drive revenue growth
The main drivers behind the increase in revenue for games were collectible cards and games for adults (+50 percent). A growth driver is likely the collectible card game Disney Lorcana, which Ravensburger successfully placed on the market. Last year, Lorcana was not included in the statistics, as it only launched in summer 2023.
The publishers are looking forward to the Christmas business with optimism. Traditionally, the toy trade generates about 40 percent of its annual revenue during this period. “Games are a popular gift item at Christmas. We expect demand for innovative and entertaining games to increase significantly in the coming months,” says Hutter.
Trends and innovations shape the industry
On average, 0.9 games are sold per person in Germany. Frequent players typically buy more than ten games a year. Specialist retailers remain the most important distribution channel for this, but they are adapting to changes by offering online shops. Over 40 percent of games are now bought online, although this share is lower than in the toy industry as a whole.
Crowdfunding and digital printing processes are promoting diversity in the market. They enable smaller publishers to minimise risks and produce niche products. Successful projects often make the leap into regular retail, which, according to game publishers, benefits the entire industry.
Global games market set to grow
According to market research institute Fortune Business Insights, the global games market is expected to grow from its current 13 billion euros to 28 billion euros by 2032. The outlook for the German market is also positive. Ten years ago, eight percent of Germans said they played at least once a week; today, it’s 13 percent. This is the result of an online survey of 3,000 people aged 18 and over. It was conducted by the Society for Consumer Research on behalf of the Foundation for Future Issues.
Young adults and parents in particular played frequently and enthusiastically, while young seniors and childless couples engaged in this pastime somewhat less often. Among families, 24 percent played at least once a week. 53 percent said they would like to play more often. According to game publishers, this shows that the industry has succeeded in appealing to families and building a relevant adult market.