Mario Kart World Dominates Japanese Boxed Charts as Switch 2 Hardware Surges Past 2 Million Units

Mario Kart World Dominates Japanese Boxed Charts as Switch 2 Hardware Surges Past 2 Million Units The Japanese video game market continues to showcase the enduring appeal of Nintendo franchises and hardware, as revealed in the latest boxed sales data from Famitsu.

In the week spanning September 8th to 14th, Mario Kart World reasserted its dominance, soaring to the top of the charts as a standout launch title for the Switch 2.

The game's enduring popularity highlights Nintendo’s continued ability to capture player interest, both with established series and hardware performance. According to Famitsu’s recent report, Mario Kart World sold an additional 38,026 physical copies in Japan, pushing its cumulative sales on Switch 2 to 1,732,435.

The momentum demonstrates the formidable presence of the Mario Kart series and cements Mario Kart World as an essential release for Nintendo’s newest platform, which officially launched earlier this year. Other notable entries in the top ten include the debut of Borderlands 4 on PlayStation 5, which garnered second place with 13,029 units sold.

While a strong start for the highly anticipated sequel developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games, the title still trails behind Mario Kart World’s impressive lead in the market.

Classic titles also maintained their grip on Japanese players.

Minecraft’s Switch version, published by Mojang Studios and maintained by Nintendo on the eShop, achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 4 million total copies sold following another 5,539 units sold last week.

Consistently ranking in the top ten, Minecraft’s longevity is especially notable given its release several years ago, underscoring the persistent demand for the sandbox phenomenon. Rounding out the bestsellers are titles like Donkey Kong Bananza (Switch 2, 10,577 units), Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (Switch, 8,547 units), Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 (Switch, 7,041 units), and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (PS5, 4,865 units), each contributing to a highly competitive marketplace. On the hardware front, Switch 2 emerged as the undisputed leader with 44,278 units sold in the same week, catapulting its total sales to 2,024,761.

This achievement positions the Switch 2 well ahead of the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, which has sold roughly half that amount over its lifespan in Japan.

The Switch OLED Model and Switch Lite also posted strong figures, bringing combined family sales to over 19,000 units for the period.

In contrast, all three PS5 SKUs together recorded sales of 21,703 units, a respectable showing, but still falling short of matching the Switch 2’s individual performance. Famitsu’s charts provide a compelling snapshot of the Japanese market, where Nintendo continues to leverage its household brands and innovative hardware design to maintain a robust lead.

As Mario Kart World demonstrates stellar sales as a flagship Switch 2 title, and with hardware crossing the two-million mark, Nintendo remains a dominant force in both software and hardware segments.

These results reaffirm the company’s strategy in supporting both legacy franchises and cutting-edge hardware, ensuring ongoing relevance in a rapidly evolving industry. For a full breakdown of the week's top ten boxed games and hardware sales, fans and industry observers can visit Famitsu's official site.

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart Mario Kart World PlayStation Mario Switch 2 PlayStation 5 Famitsu Switch consoles Kart Nintendo Borderlands 4 PS5 Minecraft Donkey Kong Bananza Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 Everybody's Golf World Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Super Robot Wars Y Switch OLED Switch Lite PlayStation 5 Digital Edition PlayStation 5 Pro Xbox Series X Xbox Series S PlayStation 4