GAMIVO names the best-selling video game genres of Q1 2026

GAMIVO, a video game deals platform, has presented a large-scale study of sales by genre. Based on the results of the first quarter of 2026, action-adventure became the clear leader by share of copies sold, outpacing RPG and survival. The release was distributed on April 3, 2026, from Sliema, Malta, in the form of a press release via Globe Newswire.

What the numbers mean—and who they’re for

The study pursued a specific goal: to determine which genres players prefer in 2026 and how those preferences are shifting compared with previous periods. Such analytics are of practical value for publishers, developers, and investors, who need to understand where demand is heading and which genres to prioritize.

The methodology was based on an analysis of approximately 1,000 top-selling titles on the GAMIVO platform for January, February, and March 2026. The key metric was each genre’s share of copies sold. A tenfold increase in the sample size compared with last year’s report, which covered only 100 positions, provided a more granular view of the market.

Genre ranking by share of copies sold in Q1 2026

Four genres surpassed the 10% mark:

• Action-adventure — 22.7%
• RPG — 19.5%
• Survival — 18.2%
• Shooters — 14.5%

The remaining segments were distributed as follows:

• Simulation — 8.6%
• Strategy — 6.7%
• Sports — 6.2%
• Puzzle — 2.0%
• Fighting — 1.6%

Action-adventure pulls ahead

A year earlier, action-adventure and RPG were virtually tied for first place. However, a tenfold increase in the sample size to a thousand titles made action-adventure’s lead unequivocal. A significant role in this was played by successful mid-sized and smaller releases that simply wouldn’t have shown up in a smaller sample.

“When analyzing a larger dataset, the action-adventure genre overtook RPG both in sales volume and in market share. This trend was largely driven by a stream of successful mid-sized and smaller releases,” said Andrzej Bazylczuk of GAMIVO.

Survival leads in units sold, while shooters win on catalog breadth

Survival notably outpaces shooters in the total number of copies sold. But if you look at the number of individual games within each genre, the picture flips. Shooters have a much broader catalog, whereas survival’s success is concentrated among a relatively small group of major hits.

“Simulation fans are willing to spend hundreds of hours in a single project, while fans of single-player shooters, as a rule, look for a new experience as soon as they finish the campaign. That, in turn, results in a larger volume of moderately popular releases in the FPS genre,” Bazylczuk noted.

Strategy games blending into simulations

The line between strategy games and simulations remains blurred. Many projects with deep tactical mechanics are formally categorized as simulations because they model real-world systems with a high degree of fidelity. Therefore, the modest share of “pure” strategy games does not mean a decline in interest in management and tactics gameplay. The bestseller list includes both new and classic projects in the RTS subgenre, confirming its resilience.

The era of genre hybrids

The modern market is increasingly moving toward genre blending. A typical hit of 2026 combines dynamic combat, environmental puzzles, an engaging story, deep customization, and survival mechanics. This combination helps explain why action-adventure appeals to such a broad audience.

Niche segments dominated by a few giants

Sports, fighting games, and racing occupy narrow niches where the market is controlled by a few major franchises, leaving little room for competitors. Puzzle games occupy a distinct space of logic games and adventure games without arcade-style elements. At the same time, a significant share of adventure games that include action mechanics ends up being grouped under the action-adventure category.

Slots lead the iGaming segment

The iGaming segment has surprises of its own for players—in recent years, more and more new genres have been appearing in it. And still, the perennial favorite remains online slots. According to data we found here with a review of online casinos offering free cash, players most often use this type of bonus specifically for slots. It is also interesting that the popularity of this genre doesn’t vary by region—it is chosen by players from Mexico and New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia.

In second place in popularity are card games, while new genres such as crash games are gradually increasing their number of fans.

Variety is the market’s key signal

The top 1,000 sales of the first quarter of 2026 show that no single genre dominates to the point of pushing all publishers in one direction. The spectrum of offerings remains broad and healthy.

“The data is encouraging. The gaming landscape is incredibly diverse, and even fans of the most niche genres can easily find excellent projects,” Andrzej Bazylczuk concluded.

GAMIVO is an international platform specializing in discounted video games. The company is based in Malta and regularly publishes analytical reports on trends in the gaming market. The full report is available on the platform’s official website.