Nintendo Switch 2 Drives Record Growth in Japanese Gaming Market in 2025
The Japanese video game market experienced historic growth in 2025, spurred by the remarkable success of the Nintendo Switch 2.
According to new data released by prominent Japanese publication Famitsu, the launch and robust sales of the Switch 2 helped push Japan’s home video game market to unprecedented levels, despite global challenges facing the console.
Nintendo’s flagship hardware led a hardware boom that echoed throughout the software sales charts, solidifying the company’s dominance in its home territory. Famitsu’s latest market report highlights that the Nintendo Switch 2 sold 3.78 million units in Japan in 2025, making it the fastest-selling console in the nation’s history.
This astonishing achievement underscores the system’s widespread appeal and its ability to catalyze industry-wide growth.
The Switch 2 alone accounted for nearly half of all home consoles sold in Japan for the year. Beyond hardware, software sales remain a key pillar of Nintendo’s ongoing success.
Of the top ten best-selling video games in Japan during 2025, nine titles were released on Nintendo platforms, seven of which were published directly by Nintendo.
Mario Kart World for Switch 2 took the leading spot, surpassing 2.66 million units sold since its June debut.
Pokémon Legends Z-A captured the next two positions; the original Switch edition sold 1.53 million units, and the Switch 2 Edition moved an additional 1 million units, demonstrating franchise strength across generations. Here’s the breakdown of Japan’s top 10 best-selling games in 2025 according to Famitsu: 1.
Mario Kart World (Switch 2) – 2,668,381 sales 2.
Pokémon Legends Z-A (Switch 1) – 1,529,823 sales 3.
Pokémon Legends Z-A Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2) – 1,004,154 sales 4.
Monster Hunter Wilds (PS5) – 838,319 sales 5.
Super Mario Party Jamboree (Switch 1) – 498,397 sales 6.
Donkey Kong Bananza (Switch 2) – 435,206 sales 7.
Kirby’s Air Riders (Switch 2) – 424,837 sales 8.
Minecraft (Switch 1) – 346,606 sales 9.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch 1) – 342,866 sales 10.
Dragon Quest 1+2 HD-2D Remake (Switch 1) – 316,439 sales Industry data reveal Japan’s video game market revenue rose notably from 301.32 billion yen in 2024 to 418.13 billion yen in 2025—a jump representing roughly 40% year-over-year growth.
The bulk of this upsurge originates from hardware sales, driven overwhelmingly by the Switch 2’s launch and subsequent market penetration.
In comparison, the PlayStation 5 shifted 879,204 units in Japan over the same period, marking a nearly 60% year-over-year decline.
Microsoft’s Xbox Series platforms, when combined, accounted for just over 31,000 units sold in the region. In summary, these numbers reaffirm Nintendo’s commanding position in its domestic market.
With blockbuster software launches and unmatched hardware momentum, the Nintendo Switch 2 not only broke records but also set new benchmarks for what’s possible in the Japanese gaming industry.
As new releases and updates like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds continue to arrive, the Switch ecosystem shows no sign of slowing down.
According to new data released by prominent Japanese publication Famitsu, the launch and robust sales of the Switch 2 helped push Japan’s home video game market to unprecedented levels, despite global challenges facing the console.
Nintendo’s flagship hardware led a hardware boom that echoed throughout the software sales charts, solidifying the company’s dominance in its home territory. Famitsu’s latest market report highlights that the Nintendo Switch 2 sold 3.78 million units in Japan in 2025, making it the fastest-selling console in the nation’s history.
This astonishing achievement underscores the system’s widespread appeal and its ability to catalyze industry-wide growth.
The Switch 2 alone accounted for nearly half of all home consoles sold in Japan for the year. Beyond hardware, software sales remain a key pillar of Nintendo’s ongoing success.
Of the top ten best-selling video games in Japan during 2025, nine titles were released on Nintendo platforms, seven of which were published directly by Nintendo.
Mario Kart World for Switch 2 took the leading spot, surpassing 2.66 million units sold since its June debut.
Pokémon Legends Z-A captured the next two positions; the original Switch edition sold 1.53 million units, and the Switch 2 Edition moved an additional 1 million units, demonstrating franchise strength across generations. Here’s the breakdown of Japan’s top 10 best-selling games in 2025 according to Famitsu: 1.
Mario Kart World (Switch 2) – 2,668,381 sales 2.
Pokémon Legends Z-A (Switch 1) – 1,529,823 sales 3.
Pokémon Legends Z-A Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2) – 1,004,154 sales 4.
Monster Hunter Wilds (PS5) – 838,319 sales 5.
Super Mario Party Jamboree (Switch 1) – 498,397 sales 6.
Donkey Kong Bananza (Switch 2) – 435,206 sales 7.
Kirby’s Air Riders (Switch 2) – 424,837 sales 8.
Minecraft (Switch 1) – 346,606 sales 9.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch 1) – 342,866 sales 10.
Dragon Quest 1+2 HD-2D Remake (Switch 1) – 316,439 sales Industry data reveal Japan’s video game market revenue rose notably from 301.32 billion yen in 2024 to 418.13 billion yen in 2025—a jump representing roughly 40% year-over-year growth.
The bulk of this upsurge originates from hardware sales, driven overwhelmingly by the Switch 2’s launch and subsequent market penetration.
In comparison, the PlayStation 5 shifted 879,204 units in Japan over the same period, marking a nearly 60% year-over-year decline.
Microsoft’s Xbox Series platforms, when combined, accounted for just over 31,000 units sold in the region. In summary, these numbers reaffirm Nintendo’s commanding position in its domestic market.
With blockbuster software launches and unmatched hardware momentum, the Nintendo Switch 2 not only broke records but also set new benchmarks for what’s possible in the Japanese gaming industry.
As new releases and updates like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds continue to arrive, the Switch ecosystem shows no sign of slowing down.
