Recently, Nintendo announced its latest financial results, revealing that Nintendo Switch hardware sales have reached 146.04 million units and total Switch software sales have surpassed 1.306 billion. It also disclosed the best-selling Nintendo first-party titles, with the top-selling game reaching over 60 million units in its lifetime. We will continue to update this list each time Nintendo announces its financial results. Below is the full list of Nintendo’s best-selling Switch games.
10. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – 17.77 million
Widely considered as the best of the New Super Mario Bros. series, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe has sold over 17 million copies to date. Released in 2019, its major selling point is the inclusion of the New Super Luigi U expansion. However, the release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder highlights the lack of imagination in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.
New Super Mario Bros U. Deluxe was released on November 11, 2019.
9. Super Mario Party – 20.98 million
I found Super Mario Party to be somewhat non-traditional compared to other entries in the Mario Party series, particularly in contrast to Mario Party Superstars. Still, Super Mario Party offers a wide variety of enjoyable mini-games and a larger selection of characters. One major issue with Super Mario Party is its requirement of Joy-Con controllers, which can be frustrating.
Super Mario Party was released on October 5, 2018.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – 21.04 million
My personal favorite game of 2023, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, has sold over 20 million units since its release, a figure any game developer would dream of. But for Nintendo, this achievement is just another notch on its belt. Expanding on the original formula created in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom is a sequel worthy of the name. The game faces criticism for building on an established foundation and its similarity to its predecessor. However, the same criticisms could be applied to other highly acclaimed games, such as The Last of Us Part II and God of War Ragnarök. In my Tears of the Kingdom review, I described the game as “truly an adventure unlikely any I’ve experienced.”
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was released on May 12, 2023.
7. Pokémon Scarlet / Pokémon Violet – 25.69 million
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet show just how popular the Pokémon franchise is. Despite receiving largely mediocre reviews from critics, this entry has become one of the franchise’s best-selling games, topping 25 million units sold. Unfortunately, this sales figure may be a significant reason why Nintendo and Game Freak have not pursued major innovations in Pokémon games for years—they continue to sell no matter what.
Pokémon Scarlet / Pokémon Violet were released on November 18, 2022.
6. Pokémon Sword / Pokémon Shield – 26.44 million
Set in Galar, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield were the first games in the eighth generation of the long-running Pokémon franchise. They introduced the Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanics, which transform Pokémon into massive creatures, such as the giant Pikachu shown above. Reception for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield was mostly positive, and they are currently the top-selling Pokémon games on the Switch.
Pokémon Sword / Pokémon Shield were released on November 15, 2019.
5. Super Mario Odyssey – 28.50 million
It’s hard to believe that Super Mario Odyssey was originally released in 2017. Playing the game today, it’s still as refreshing and creative as on the day it was first released. Super Mario Odyssey is a true gem that thoroughly reimagined the possibilities of a 3D Mario game. It’s surprising we haven’t seen a successor yet, but it’s very likely Nintendo is saving that for its next console.
Super Mario Odyssey was released on October 27, 2017.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 32.29 million
Now that all these years have passed since the original release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it’s fascinating to look back at the game. It was widely considered a 10 out of 10 game when it was first released in 2017, but it’s obvious The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom improves on every aspect. The question now is, does Breath of the Wild become retrospectively a 9 out of 10 game because Tears of the Kingdom surpasses it? Or can they both be considered masterpieces of their respective times? Either way, combined, these two Zelda games have sold over 50 million units, a number that, surprisingly, still doesn’t match the Switch’s best-selling first-party game.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was released on March 3, 2017.
3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 35.14 million
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate might just be the only game in the world that truly lives up to the ‘”Ultimate” in its name. For video game enthusiasts, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate represents the ultimate of crossover experiences. There’s simply no other game available where you’ll find Kirby crossing paths with characters like Sephiroth—at least in an official capacity. It will really be interesting to see where Nintendo takes the franchise from here.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was released on December 7, 2018.
2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 46.45 million
I feel like everyone remembers the moment Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released. During a very strange time in the world, this game somehow provided comfort to millions globally. Its sales success can arguably be attributed to the global pandemic, offering a gameplay loop that many people needed during the unexpected worldwide shutdown. For some, Animal Crossing: New Horizons served as an introduction to the wonderful world of video games.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released on March 20, 2020.
1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 64.27 million
The best-selling, first-party Nintendo title on the Switch likely comes as no surprise. However, the total sales figure of 64.27 million might be surprising, given how staggering that number is. While many units were bundled with Switch consoles, this shouldn’t take away from the fact that more people own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe than the populations of Italy or South Korea. As the sixth best-selling game of all time, we expect that its eventual sequel will be bigger and better.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was released on April 28, 2017.
Recent Updates
- November 5, 2024: Nintendo has stopped including a comprehensive list of million-plus sellers in its financial results. To ensure accuracy, we have decided to report only the sales figures Nintendo provides for its best-selling Switch titles.
- May 7, 2024: Additional games have been added to the list, and sales figures have been updated to reflect the latest financial results announced by Nintendo.
