Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Outsells Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch: Circana Sales Report Insights

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Outsells Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch: Circana Sales Report Insights Nintendo’s Mario Kart franchise has been a staple in the gaming industry for decades, setting both sales and critical acclaim benchmarks across multiple generations of hardware.

With the highly anticipated release of Mario Kart World, fans and industry watchers alike have kept a keen eye on how the new entry would perform, especially given the enduring popularity of its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, on the Nintendo Switch.

Recent data from Circana, a leading video game industry sales tracker, has shed light on the latest software chart movements, illustrating how both titles are faring in today’s market. According to the latest Circana sales report for the United States, Mario Kart World, despite receiving praise for its engaging gameplay and fresh features, has currently been surpassed in sales by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

The report indicates that Mario Kart World, which recently launched on the Nintendo Switch 2, dropped from the top of the Nintendo Switch software charts—moving from first place to sixth.

Conversely, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe saw renewed momentum, climbing from seventh position to fourth on the sales charts. A Circana representative noted, in clear and concise terms, that the remarkable performance of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe stems in large part from the substantial established user base of the original Nintendo Switch console.

While Mario Kart World launched exclusively for the newer Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe benefits from a far larger player install base with years of first-party support and expansion content.

The upward trend in sales for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe highlights its ongoing appeal and the strength of Nintendo’s back catalog on the Switch platform. It is important to clarify that Circana’s tracking for this period included only physical copies sold at retail, with digital sales figures excluded from the rankings.

This is a crucial consideration, as Nintendo Switch owners frequently purchase titles via the Nintendo eShop, potentially skewing the full picture of overall software demand. Since its original release in 2017, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has consistently ranked among the top sellers for Nintendo Switch, achieving impressive milestones and setting new records for the franchise.

Its enduring success has solidified Nintendo’s position as a leader in family-friendly multiplayer gaming.

Meanwhile, the strong, albeit slightly lower, performance of Mario Kart World on the Nintendo Switch 2 points to continued demand for innovative racing experiences, reaffirming the Mario Kart brand’s universal appeal across hardware generations. As the gaming landscape evolves and Nintendo expands its hardware ecosystem, both Mario Kart titles demonstrate the lasting impact of quality game design and franchise recognition.

For industry professionals, game developers, and long-standing Nintendo fans, these sales chart movements provide valuable insight into player preferences and the continued health of Nintendo’s software ecosystem.

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