Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Makes Strong Debut on Nintendo Switch January 2025 Sales Charts

Nintendo kicked off 2025 with the highly anticipated revival of Donkey Kong Country Returns, bringing the beloved Wii and 3DS platformer to the Nintendo Switch in HD.

Released in January, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD quickly became a focal point of the new year’s sales figures, thanks to data provided by Circana and industry analyst Mat Piscatella. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD entered the US monthly sales charts at an impressive eighth position, making it the sole new release to break into the top 20 best-sellers for January 2025.

The game’s strong debut placed it just below EA Sports College Football 25, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 securing the overall top spot.

Other notable Nintendo titles, such as Super Mario Party Jamboree and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, saw shifts in chart position, dropping from fifth to fourteenth and sixteenth to seventeenth, respectively. Circana’s Mat Piscatella emphasized the significance of Donkey Kong's physical sales contributing to its high ranking: “Donkey Kong Country Returns was the only new release to appear on the monthly top 20 best-sellers chart, with physical sales alone enough to achieve the #8 position.” This robust performance underscores the enduring popularity of Nintendo franchises and the strong demand for physical editions among Switch owners. Zooming in on Nintendo’s platform-specific charts, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD secured the number one spot as the best-selling Nintendo Switch game for January.

Super Mario Party Jamboree and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe followed in second and third positions, while the MySims Cozy Bundle, which debuted the previous November, rounded out the top ten. On the hardware front, the overall console market faced double-digit percentage declines across all major platforms compared to the previous year.

The Nintendo Switch ranked second in units sold for January, trailing only the PlayStation 5.

"PlayStation 5 hardware spending dipped by 38% year-on-year, with Xbox Series declining by 50% and Switch by 53%.

PlayStation 5 was once again the best-selling hardware platform for both units and dollars.

Xbox Series ranked 2nd in hardware spending, while Nintendo Switch edged out Xbox Series to rank 2nd in unit sales," Piscatella reported. In mobile gaming, Pokémon TCG Pocket—touted as the biggest launch of 2024—fell three spots in January.

According to Circana analyst Aune, this dip may relate to the game’s update cadence.

Notably, the week beginning January 27, 2025, marked Pokémon TCG Pocket’s second-highest revenue week, coinciding with the launch of new booster packs. For players eager to experience the remastered adventure, Nintendo has released a demo for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, available now on the Nintendo Switch eShop.

As the Switch continues to extend its legacy with high-profile releases and strong software sales, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD stands out as a highlight among early 2025 offerings.

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