Japanese Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 sales charts for the start of 2026 reveal Mario Kart World continuing its impressive lead, highlighting sustained consumer enthusiasm for Nintendo’s flagship racing series and the enduring popularity of major franchises.
Drawing from Famitsu’s comprehensive weekly sales data, the two-week period from December 29, 2025, to January 11, 2026 demonstrates robust sales figures across both hardware generations. **Mario Kart World Dominates Nintendo Switch 2 Sales** Mario Kart World for Nintendo Switch 2 once again took the top position, moving 73,579 units from December 29 to January 4, and adding another 19,290 copies from January 5 to 11.
This brings its cumulative Japanese sales to a remarkable 2,761,250 units—further cementing Nintendo’s dominance in the Japanese market and underscoring the unrivaled cultural presence of Mario Kart.
A Nintendo spokesperson previously stated that, “The Mario Kart franchise’s cross-generational appeal and accessibility have made it a cornerstone of the Nintendo experience.” The continued performance of Mario Kart World on the Switch 2 aligns with the series’ historic reputation for longevity and replayability. **Strong Performances from Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Momotaro Dentetsu 2** Other notable titles include Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Its Nintendo Switch release sold 35,489 units in the final week of 2025 and an additional 12,351 in early January 2026, for a total of 1,577,663 units.
The Nintendo Switch 2 version followed closely behind in sales, reaching over 1,056,514 copies.
Similarly, Momotaro Dentetsu 2—both on the original Switch and the new Switch 2 Edition—continued to perform well, surpassing 294,000 and 241,000 units sold respectively. **Kirby Air Riders, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Enduring Hits** Kirby Air Riders, exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, bolstered the family-friendly platformer’s presence with 472,549 total sales, while Donkey Kong Bananza crossed the 460,000 mark on the new hardware.
Legacy titles such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Minecraft maintain ubiquitous support among Switch owners, with Animal Crossing exceeding 8.3 million units sold in Japan and Minecraft reaching over 4.12 million sales. **Classic and New Titles Enrich the Chart Landscape** Other consistent chart-toppers included the ever-popular Super Mario Party Jamboree, Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate, and Nintendo Switch Sports.
Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake, available on both Switch and Switch 2, continued to build momentum post-launch, collectively closing in on half a million sales. The data further reveals the staying power of Nintendo’s library as crossover titles and special editions—such as Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Tamagotchi Plaza—draw fans both old and new.
The PlayStation 5 release, Ghost of Yotei, and titles from other major publishers like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival also held positions in the top thirty, reflecting diversity in Japanese gaming preferences. **Nintendo’s Hardware Ecosystem Driving Multi-Platform Sales** The coexistence of Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 versions within the top sellers list demonstrates the strength of Nintendo’s platform strategy, supporting legacy titles while driving adoption of new hardware and cross-generational releases.
Credit for the latest Japanese sales data goes to Famitsu, whose detailed breakdowns offer invaluable insight into ongoing trends within the Japanese gaming industry.
Drawing from Famitsu’s comprehensive weekly sales data, the two-week period from December 29, 2025, to January 11, 2026 demonstrates robust sales figures across both hardware generations. **Mario Kart World Dominates Nintendo Switch 2 Sales** Mario Kart World for Nintendo Switch 2 once again took the top position, moving 73,579 units from December 29 to January 4, and adding another 19,290 copies from January 5 to 11.
This brings its cumulative Japanese sales to a remarkable 2,761,250 units—further cementing Nintendo’s dominance in the Japanese market and underscoring the unrivaled cultural presence of Mario Kart.
A Nintendo spokesperson previously stated that, “The Mario Kart franchise’s cross-generational appeal and accessibility have made it a cornerstone of the Nintendo experience.” The continued performance of Mario Kart World on the Switch 2 aligns with the series’ historic reputation for longevity and replayability. **Strong Performances from Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Momotaro Dentetsu 2** Other notable titles include Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Its Nintendo Switch release sold 35,489 units in the final week of 2025 and an additional 12,351 in early January 2026, for a total of 1,577,663 units.
The Nintendo Switch 2 version followed closely behind in sales, reaching over 1,056,514 copies.
Similarly, Momotaro Dentetsu 2—both on the original Switch and the new Switch 2 Edition—continued to perform well, surpassing 294,000 and 241,000 units sold respectively. **Kirby Air Riders, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Enduring Hits** Kirby Air Riders, exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, bolstered the family-friendly platformer’s presence with 472,549 total sales, while Donkey Kong Bananza crossed the 460,000 mark on the new hardware.
Legacy titles such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Minecraft maintain ubiquitous support among Switch owners, with Animal Crossing exceeding 8.3 million units sold in Japan and Minecraft reaching over 4.12 million sales. **Classic and New Titles Enrich the Chart Landscape** Other consistent chart-toppers included the ever-popular Super Mario Party Jamboree, Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate, and Nintendo Switch Sports.
Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake, available on both Switch and Switch 2, continued to build momentum post-launch, collectively closing in on half a million sales. The data further reveals the staying power of Nintendo’s library as crossover titles and special editions—such as Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Tamagotchi Plaza—draw fans both old and new.
The PlayStation 5 release, Ghost of Yotei, and titles from other major publishers like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival also held positions in the top thirty, reflecting diversity in Japanese gaming preferences. **Nintendo’s Hardware Ecosystem Driving Multi-Platform Sales** The coexistence of Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 versions within the top sellers list demonstrates the strength of Nintendo’s platform strategy, supporting legacy titles while driving adoption of new hardware and cross-generational releases.
Credit for the latest Japanese sales data goes to Famitsu, whose detailed breakdowns offer invaluable insight into ongoing trends within the Japanese gaming industry.
