Best-selling Nintendo Switch Games of All Time by Lance Oczepek
The Nintendo Switch is currently one of the best-selling consoles of all time. Along with being a one-of-a-kind system, the Nintendo Switch has put out some great games in its almost 7 years of existence. As the system has been out for a while, Nintendo has had plenty of time to sell games. Recently, Nintendo released the numbers on just how many copies of their games they have sold. Some games that didn't make the top 5 are games like: Pokemon Sword and Shield, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Super Mario Party, The Legend of Zelda Tears of The Kingdom, and Super Mario Bros U Deluxe. All numbers in this article are as of September 2023.
At number five selling 26.95 million copies is Super Mario Odyssey. Super Mario Odyssey is the most recent original Mario game. With its 17 open-world kingdoms Mario returns with a new sidekick named “Cappy” as they must save Princess Peach From the main boss in the game, Bowser. As mentioned the game has 17 expansive kingdoms that each have a different theme and new challenging obstacles to explore. Super Mario Odyssey was released in the fall of 2017.
The fourth best-selling game on the list is The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild which has sold 31.15 million copies. The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild is an open-world action-adventure game set in the land of Hyrule. The hero “Link” wakes up from a 100-year slumber to try to save Princess Zelda. The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild was originally planned to be released in 2015 on the Wii U but was instead released as a launch title for the Nintendo switch in 2017.
Third is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate which has sold 32.44 million copies. Super Smash Bros Ultimate is the newest installment in the Super Smash Bros series and made various improvements to the overall experience of the 2D fighting game. Super Smash Bros Ultimate can be played with up to 8 people on one system which could be one reason this game has sold so many copies due to the playability and simple controls. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was released near the end of 2018.
Taking the second spot on the list is Animal Crossing's New Horizons with 43.38 million copies sold. Animal Crossings is mainly a single-player experience in which the player is tasked with living on an island. While on this island there are many things that the player is capable of doing such as decorating, planting flowers, helping build shops, inviting fictional characters to live on the island, and mainly doing whatever you would like. The draw to a game like this is the fact that you have complete control over what your experience looks like. A multiplayer online experience lets you visit, explore, and share islands with friends in the real world. Animal Crossings New Horizons is the youngest title in the top five being released in March of 2020. One interesting detail about the release date is that it was the same month that COVID-19 shut down most of America. The date of its release could have pushed the sales of the game because people were bored at home and wanted to explore and get lost in a game that was very easy to be entertained by.
Finally, the best-selling game for the Nintendo Switch is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe which has sold a whopping 57.01 million copies. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a single multi and single-player racing game. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Is a remake of Mario Kart 8 but with slightly better graphics and more tracks and new battle modes. Slight changes make this game stand out from its original form which only sold 8.46 million copies which was due to not many people purchasing the Wii U. Another one of the reasons that Mario Kart 8 deluxe sold better on the Switch is that the Switch console was a lot easier to play with friends and family. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was released in the middle of 2017 a few months after the release of the Nintendo Switch System.
At number five selling 26.95 million copies is Super Mario Odyssey. Super Mario Odyssey is the most recent original Mario game. With its 17 open-world kingdoms Mario returns with a new sidekick named “Cappy” as they must save Princess Peach From the main boss in the game, Bowser. As mentioned the game has 17 expansive kingdoms that each have a different theme and new challenging obstacles to explore. Super Mario Odyssey was released in the fall of 2017.
The fourth best-selling game on the list is The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild which has sold 31.15 million copies. The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild is an open-world action-adventure game set in the land of Hyrule. The hero “Link” wakes up from a 100-year slumber to try to save Princess Zelda. The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild was originally planned to be released in 2015 on the Wii U but was instead released as a launch title for the Nintendo switch in 2017.
Third is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate which has sold 32.44 million copies. Super Smash Bros Ultimate is the newest installment in the Super Smash Bros series and made various improvements to the overall experience of the 2D fighting game. Super Smash Bros Ultimate can be played with up to 8 people on one system which could be one reason this game has sold so many copies due to the playability and simple controls. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was released near the end of 2018.
Taking the second spot on the list is Animal Crossing's New Horizons with 43.38 million copies sold. Animal Crossings is mainly a single-player experience in which the player is tasked with living on an island. While on this island there are many things that the player is capable of doing such as decorating, planting flowers, helping build shops, inviting fictional characters to live on the island, and mainly doing whatever you would like. The draw to a game like this is the fact that you have complete control over what your experience looks like. A multiplayer online experience lets you visit, explore, and share islands with friends in the real world. Animal Crossings New Horizons is the youngest title in the top five being released in March of 2020. One interesting detail about the release date is that it was the same month that COVID-19 shut down most of America. The date of its release could have pushed the sales of the game because people were bored at home and wanted to explore and get lost in a game that was very easy to be entertained by.
Finally, the best-selling game for the Nintendo Switch is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe which has sold a whopping 57.01 million copies. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a single multi and single-player racing game. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Is a remake of Mario Kart 8 but with slightly better graphics and more tracks and new battle modes. Slight changes make this game stand out from its original form which only sold 8.46 million copies which was due to not many people purchasing the Wii U. Another one of the reasons that Mario Kart 8 deluxe sold better on the Switch is that the Switch console was a lot easier to play with friends and family. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was released in the middle of 2017 a few months after the release of the Nintendo Switch System.