ICv2 has published an excerpt from their “Guide #61: Games” which promises an in depth look at the RPG industry. They have an intriguing list of the top 5 bestselling games:
- D&D 4e – WotC
- Warhammer 40k: Dark Heresy – Fantasy Flight
- World of Darkness – White Wolf
- Shadowrun- Catalyst Lab Games
- Pathfinder – Paizo Publishing
I wish there were numbers next to these to see “how much”. It’s funny how in many ways the list looks like it’s the 1980’s again… “Ah of course, D&D, World of Darkness, and Shadowrun!” It’s cool that WH40k is #2; somewhat predictable due to how popular 40k the minis game has always been, but gratifying in light of the publisher change.
But the real news here is Pathfinder’s on the list at #5, and it’s just a beta, which is free in PDF to all! And they ran out of print copies and aren’t selling more! This is awesome and tells me that when Pathfinder ‘goes gold,’ assuming they don’t wait too long and lose momentum, it’ll be huge.
I should get a copy of this ICv2 guide. I hope they have real numbers in it, so we can really compare RPGs but also compare those to the CCGs, CMGs, etc. in a real way.
Geek Related 
Good to see 4e and 40k doing well. I wish White Wolf would remember Werewolf exists, as it’s the only NWoD game I actually like.
Actually, Paizo claims they are looking into doing a second reprint of the Pathfinder:Beta. Seems enough people asked for it even though the final will be out less than six months after a reprint will be available. I don’t think they will lose momentum. Seems all the people I shown the Beta like what they see for the most part. For purposes of disclosure, All of the people in question have no desire to play DnD 4ed.
Without numbers the list is meaningless. D&D could be selling 1,000 copies a week and the others 100 between them.
Reading the source article it say the list “is based on interviews with retailers, distributors, and manufacturers” so it is not even numerical measure. Purely based on peoples opinions, some of whom have a vested interest in taking certain products up or down.
@Chris – I agree, I wondering about the numbers myself. At least for the last one (#5), we know how many were printed and that they need to reprint it.