Japanese Video Game Sales: Mario Kart World Leads Nintendo Switch 2 Surge

The latest Japanese software sales figures, provided by Famitsu, reveal a strong performance by Nintendo's newest hardware, the Nintendo Switch 2, with Mario Kart World continuing to top the charts.

This week, Mario Kart World (Nintendo Switch 2) recorded 33,861 units sold, driving its cumulative total to an impressive 1,766,296 copies.

As Nintendo expands its Switch lineup, these numbers underscore the enduring popularity of the Mario Kart franchise among Japanese gamers. Notably, The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter made its debut both on PlayStation 5 (21,511 units) and the original Nintendo Switch (21,453 units), marking a successful cross-platform launch for Nihon Falcom.

This release highlights the sustained demand for classic Japanese RPGs (JRPGs) in the market, as players embrace both new and remastered experiences. Following closely, Donkey Kong Bananza for Nintendo Switch 2 secured the fourth position with 11,300 copies sold this week, contributing to a cumulative 318,441 units.

Castlevania Dominus Collection, another notable new release, entered the Nintendo Switch chart at fifth place (9,503 units) and also appeared on PlayStation 5 later in the ranking (2,352 units), reflecting strong multi-platform interest in Konami's iconic series. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 (Nintendo Switch) maintained solid performance, selling an additional 7,170 units and reaching a total of 123,697 sold.

Additionally, enduring franchises like Minecraft (Nintendo Switch: 5,762 units / 4,007,619 total) and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch: 5,203 units / 6,445,312 total) continued to demonstrate their remarkable staying power in the Japanese market. Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar saw combined sales on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 platforms, with 6,059 and 2,610 units sold respectively, reinforcing the appeal of simulation titles developed by Marvelous Inc.

Meanwhile, Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo Switch), another evergreen Nintendo property, added 4,318 units, bringing its cumulative sales to an astounding 8,221,321 units. Debut entries like The Quintessential Princesses: Fantasy, the Abyss, and the Magic Academy showed strong initial sales on Nintendo Switch (5,077 units), while Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo Switch: 3,245 units / Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: 2,617 units) continued its broad appeal across hardware generations. These robust sales figures reflect the dynamic nature of the Japanese gaming industry, with Nintendo platforms—particularly the Nintendo Switch 2—dominating the charts through established franchises and new releases.

PlayStation 5 also demonstrated its relevance with several new and returning titles charting in the top 30. As digital and physical sales on the eShop and retail channels remain crucial for Japanese publishers, Famitsu’s latest data offers a snapshot of a market thriving on a blend of legacy franchises and innovative new experiences.

With milestones continually being met and exceeded, the momentum for Nintendo and its third-party partners shows little sign of waning in 2024.

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