Netflix, Nostalgia Spur Gains for ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ Licenses: NPD

The fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons and popular Netflix series Stranger Things rose in NPD’s Group ranking of the fastest-growing licensed book properties in the U.S. in 2022's second quarter, reported NPD Tuesday. Dungeons and Dragons ranked in sixth place in Q2, with sales of $14.9 million based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail pricing, said NPD. Its growth rate was 9% higher than in Q1, it said. Books based on Stranger Things ranked 21st, with MSRP sales of $593,000 in Q2, and a sequential quarterly growth rate of 390% from Q1, it said. “The 1980s nostalgia that infuses the popular streaming TV series Stranger Things has obviously struck a chord with viewers and we have seen it drive a resurgence of Dungeons and Dragons books license growth ever since the release of the Stranger Things second season,” said NPD analyst Kristen McLean. “Parents who once played Dungeons and Dragons back in the day are now watching their kids get involved in the game, thanks to being featured in the Netflix series.”