According to market research firm NPD Group, game sales in the United States grew 21 percent from the year before, reaching a total of $1.77 billion in 2016. The games category, in fact, was the third largest segment of overall toy sales, falling just behind collectibles and outdoor & sports toys at 8.7% of the total market.

Also of note, within the collectibles segment, blind pack sales grew 60 percent 2015-2016 and were six-times greater than in 2013!

Youth electronics were up 3 percent. Building sets were down 3 percent.

NPD reported similar growth in the U.K., where the games & puzzles segment also increased 21 percent year-on-year.