Japan Weekly Game Sales Chart: Mario Kart World Leads, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Debuts Strong on Switch and PS5

Japan Weekly Game Sales Chart: Mario Kart World Leads, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Debuts Strong on Switch and PS5 Japan’s video game market remains as dynamic as ever, with the latest Famitsu weekly physical sales chart highlighting both enduring hits and notable newcomers.

Covering the sales period from September 15th to 21st, 2024, this week’s performance underlines continued dominance by Nintendo hardware and software while also showcasing a strong multi-platform debut for Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. Mario Kart World, published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch 2, retains the top podium by selling an additional 33,861 units, further solidifying its position as a fan favorite.

The title now boasts an impressive lifetime total of 1,766,298 units in Japan, demonstrating the unwavering appeal of the Mario Kart franchise in the region. A significant highlight this week is the debut of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, released simultaneously for both PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch.

The PS5 edition narrowly edged out its Switch counterpart in physical sales, with 21,511 and 21,453 units sold respectively.

When combined, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter outperformed all other titles in overall physical sales this week.

Notably, the Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game is only available digitally and is therefore excluded from the physical sales tally. Donkey Kong Bananza also sustained steady momentum on Nintendo Switch 2, moving an additional 11,300 copies and bringing its total lifetime sales to 318,441.

Rounding out the top five is Superdeluxe’s Castlevania Dominus Collection for the Switch, which saw an impressive launch week with nearly 10,000 units sold. The remainder of the top ten includes a blend of enduring hits and fresh releases for Nintendo and Sony platforms.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 continues to resonate with Switch users, adding 7,170 units this week.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, Minecraft for PS5, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and The Quintessential Princesses: Fantasy, the Abyss, and the Magic Academy for Switch fill the remaining spots, evidencing the breadth of titles driving the Japanese market. On the hardware front, the Nintendo Switch 2 once again leads console sales.

After surpassing 2 million cumulative units last month, the system added another 40,711 units this week for a lifetime total of 2,065,472 in Japan.

The Switch family’s three other SKUs—a combination of the OLED Model, Switch Lite, and the original Switch—amassed a total of 21,660 units sold during the week.

In contrast, combined PlayStation 5 sales (including the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and PlayStation 5 Pro) reached 8,384 units, marking a noticeable drop compared to prior weeks.

Xbox consoles, meanwhile, remain niche, with the Series X and Series S families registering a relatively minor presence this period. The robust performance of perennial Nintendo franchises, strong third-party launches, and steady hardware sales underpin Nintendo’s sustained momentum in Japan’s competitive market.

As developers and publishers look to future releases and continued support, these latest figures from Famitsu underscore both consumer loyalty and diverse gaming appetites across platforms.

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart Mario Kart World Mario Japan Switch 2 PS5 Switch Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Kart Trails in the Sky Sky Trails Nintendo GungHo Online Famitsu Donkey Kong Bananza Castlevania Dominus Collection Superdeluxe Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Minecraft Switch OLED Model Switch Lite PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X PlayStation 4