D. Tighe
Research expert covering consumer behavior, sporting goods retail, and the global toy industry.
Card game and puzzle market worldwide - statistics & facts
Card game and puzzle products, which are often relatively cheap games or toys that test the brain in an enjoyable way, come in many varieties and are perhaps some of the most common items found in people’s homes for the purposes of indoor activities. While they may not be taken out of the cupboard and used on a regular basis, many households have purchased such goods at one point, whether it be a simple deck of cards, or a jigsaw puzzle or two. In 2021, the global card game market, as well as the global puzzle market, each generated approximately 6.6 billion U.S. dollars of revenue. For the year 2022, a slight drop in sales is expected, however, both markets are projected to make over eight billion U.S. dollars’ worth of global revenue in 2026.
When it comes to card games, there are also many relevant toy and game companies outside of the United States. Japan, for instance, is home to many big-name manufacturers, including The Pokémon Company (owned by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures) and Konami, the company responsible for Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards.
Leading manufacturers
There are many well-known companies in the American card game, board game, and puzzle market including large names, such as Stronghold Games, USAopoly, Ravensburger, and so on. Some of the largest players in the United States, however, are Hasbro, which owns the Monopoly brand, and Mattel, which produces the popular card game known as Uno.When it comes to card games, there are also many relevant toy and game companies outside of the United States. Japan, for instance, is home to many big-name manufacturers, including The Pokémon Company (owned by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures) and Konami, the company responsible for Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards.
Popular games and hobbies worldwide
People from around the world enjoy playing card games, beating friends and family members at board games, and finishing puzzles as a means to relax. That being said, such activities are not the most popular pastimes in many countries. In the United States, for example, about a quarter of surveyed individuals said they considered board and card games one of their personal hobbies in 2022. This was the case for about one in five survey respondents in the United Kingdom. In many countries, people more often spent their time reading, cooking, baking, as well as taking part in outdoor activities.
