Recently, Nintendo announced its financial results, revealing Nintendo Switch hardware sales have reached 139.36 million units, and total Switch software sales have surpassed 1.2 billion. It also shared that Nintendo first-party titles have sold over one million units, with its best-selling title having moved over 60 million units in its lifetime. We’ll be sure to keep this list updated each time Nintendo announces its financial results. Here’s the full list of the best-selling Switch games from Nintendo.
17. Nintendo Switch Sports – 2.88 million
Wii Sports was the best-selling game on the Nintendo Wii, having sold approximately 82.90 million copies in its lifetime. So, it’s a bit of a surprise that its successor, Nintendo Switch Sports, has sold 80 million fewer copies, with just 2.88 million units sold. Nintendo Switch Sports features volleyball, badminton, bowling, soccer, chambara, tennis, and golf.
Nintendo Switch Sports was released on April 29, 2022.
16. Super Mario RPG – 3.14 million
Despite being released just last November, Super Mario RPG is already one of the best-selling first-party Switch titles. A remake of a beloved classic, Super Mario RPG brings iconic characters Mario, Bowser, and Peach on a journey with original characters Mallow and Geno. In our review, we said Super Mario RPG “perfectly captures everything that made the 16-bit era so charming.”
Super Mario RPG was released on November 17, 2023.
15. Pikmin 4 – 3.33 million
Pikmin 4 was one of the most fun games I played last year, demonstrating how Nintendo remains unmatched in its pure pursuit of fun. As a newcomer to the Pikmin series, Pikmin 4 has convinced me to go back and play the other three games in the franchise. In my review, I credited Nintendo for its continued dedication to crafting fun games, a commitment that stands out in an industry often overshadowed by profit-driven strategies.
Pikmin 4 was released on July 21, 2023.
14. Splatoon 3 – 11.71 million
The original Splatoon was one of the most pleasantly surprising games I’ve ever played. A group of us spent dozens of hours enjoying the game on the Wii U, and we continued this tradition with Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3. The latest entry in the series demonstrates how the formula has evolved over the years while still retaining the original’s charm. I can’t wait to see what the team is working on for Splatoon 4.
Splatoon 3 was released on September 9, 2022.
13. Super Mario Bros. Wonder – 11.96 million
A testament to the popularity of the Super Mario Bros. franchise is the latest entry, released last October, which has already sold nearly 12 million units. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is an excellent game. As mentioned in my review, it’s astonishing how Nintendo continues to reinvent itself, delivering fresh and exciting gameplay. That multiple generations of gamers have come to enjoy 2D side-scrolling Mario games might be more impressive than these sales numbers.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder was released on October 20, 2023.
12. Mario Party Superstars – 12.31 million
I feel like Mario Party games often fly under the radar. They may not always introduce revolutionary changes to the franchise, but they’re always a good time. Personally, I found Mario Party Superstars more enjoyable than Super Mario Party, which appears further down this list. Over the years, Nintendo has proven that family-friendly, household party games can remain successful.
Mario Party Superstars was released on October 29, 2021.
11. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury – 13.17 million
I imagine that Super Mario Bros. Wonder will eventually surpass Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury in sales, but I also don’t want to undersell how great this game is. On its own, this version of Super Mario 3D World comes highly recommended, but the addition of Bowser’s Fury makes it one of the best packages available. It also serves as a reminder that we’re long overdue for a true successor to Super Mario Sunshine.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury was released on February 12, 2021.
10. Luigi’s Mansion 3 – 13.98 million
For me, the fact that Luigi’s Mansion 3 has sold nearly 14 million units was the biggest surprise from Nintendo’s sales update. This demonstrates just how much fans adore the other brother and the success the Luigi’s Mansion franchise has achieved. It’s also a great co-op experience for those who haven’t had the chance to check it out.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 was released on October 31, 2019.
9. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – 17.20 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.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – 20.28 million
My personal favorite game of 2023, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, has sold over 20 million units in less than a year, 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. Super Mario Party – 20.34 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.
6. Pokémon Scarlet / Pokémon Violet – 24.36 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, nearing 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 was released on November 18, 2022.
5. Super Mario Odyssey – 27.65 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 – 31.61 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 – 33.67 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 – 44.79 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 – 60.58 million
The best-selling, first-party Nintendo title on the Switch likely comes as no surprise. However, the total sales figure of 60.58 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.
