It looks like it wasn’t strictly fun and games during the 2012 holiday shopping season. Merchants at American Toys ‘R’ Us stores were more inclined to purchase toys within the Learning segment rather than those in the Entertainment category, which witnessed a sales decrease of 1.9% over December 2011.

The company’s December 2012 financial statement shows that US stores saw an overall sales decrease of 1.8% compared to last year. Globally, December saw overall comparable store sales decline by 3.5% and total sales decrease by 4.1%. Strength in Canada, China, and Southeast Asia was offset by economic weakness in Europe and Japan.

The retailer’s entertainment category, which includes electronics and videogame hardware and software, was hit by an overall uncertain economic environment both in the US and abroad. According to a December 2012 analysis conducted by The NPD Group, overall hardware performance in the US declined 21%; however, HD consoles experienced softer declines of 7%.