Mario Kart World Tops Japanese Game Sales in Debut Week on Nintendo Switch 2

This week’s Japanese software sales, as reported by Famitsu, spotlight the highly anticipated launch of Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2.

In its debut, Mario Kart World delivered a blockbuster performance, selling an impressive 782,566 copies and soaring to the top of the sales charts.

The game, developed by Nintendo, underscores the enduring popularity of the Mario Kart franchise, which continues to drive hardware adoption and software engagement in Japan's dynamic gaming market. Following Mario Kart World, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma for Nintendo Switch secured second place with 45,703 units sold.

Both titles demonstrate the strong launch appeal many new releases exert on the revived Nintendo Switch 2 ecosystem.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time for Nintendo Switch placed third in weekly sales with 17,180 units, bringing its total life-to-date physical sales to 111,904 copies on the platform. Several other notable new releases broke into the top ten, including Natsume’s Book of Friends: Hazuki no Shirushi (16,865 units, Nintendo Switch), Elden Ring Nightreign (12,064 units, PlayStation 5), and Nintendo Switch 2 editions of both Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (10,877 units) and the critically celebrated Zelda titles: Tears of the Kingdom (7,992 units) and Breath of the Wild (7,529 units).

The release of updated, next-generation versions of Nintendo properties has proven to resonate strongly with the Japanese audience. Long-selling titles also maintained their momentum.

Super Mario Party Jamboree for Nintendo Switch added 6,771 copies to its cumulative 1,317,174 total, while other fan favorites like Nintendo Switch Sports (6,360 units; 1,599,452 cumulative), Minecraft (6,024; 3,907,182), Animal Crossing: New Horizons (5,832; 8,141,616), and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (5,596; 6,341,393) reaffirmed their staying power in the Japanese retail landscape. Platform-wise, the Nintendo Switch—especially with the influx of Nintendo Switch 2 software—continues to command a dominant share.

The presence of PlayStation 5 titles like Elden Ring Nightreign, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, and Astro Bot (2,951 units; 75,800 total) demonstrates healthy competition and variety.

However, the launch of next-generation software and hardware from Nintendo is drawing significant consumer attention. According to Famitsu’s latest data, the top ten rankings reflect both the strength of new releases and the enduring legacy of established franchises, with Nintendo’s Mario Kart World setting a remarkable sales benchmark on its very first week.

The robust numbers across both classic and emerging titles point to a vibrant gaming ecosystem in Japan, with the Nintendo Switch 2 firmly at the center of current market excitement.

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