On the time of writing, the Swap has the very best variety of software program gross sales of any Nintendo console, ever, with over one billion video games offered on the platform since March 2017. What’s extra, its lead is so commanding that it’ll probably maintain this pole place for a great few years to return (except there’s a sudden surge in gross sales for DS video games across the nook that no one noticed coming).
Of the entire video games obtainable on the Swap, a choose few have been in a position to make it into the elite membership of surpassing a million items offered. This can be a feat that has solely been achieved by 67 first-party video games as of September 2023, with titles ranging throughout the breadth of the Swap’s lifespan, and up to date additions together with Hearth Emblem Have interaction, Metroid Prime Remastered, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
With the discharge of the newest Nintendo monetary report, we’ve collected collectively the entire Nintendo-revealed video games (together with ones that had been solely revealed by the Massive N in sure areas — hello, Octopath Traveler!) to have reached the massive ‘one milly’ — with lots of them hitting a number of ‘millys’ [Stop saying ‘milly’ – Ed.] — and laid them out under so as of lifetime gross sales. We have additionally added our abstract of every recreation to jog your reminiscence if, you realize, maybe you want a reminder about what little-known curios like Mario Kart or Animal Crossing are about.
Lots of the following video games’ whole lifetime gross sales figures have come from the latest monetary report, although we’ve needed to look to earlier reviews for some video games that did not promote as nicely in FY2023. It is price making an allowance for that whereas we’ve used the latest knowledge obtainable to us, a few of the following totals could differ barely right now.
This rating is assured to alter considerably with the following monetary report, so we will likely be preserving the standings up to date at any time when we get one other take a look at the official gross sales knowledge.
Till then, yow will discover the entire first-party Swap video games to have offered at the very least a million copies under…
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Lifetime gross sales (as of September 2023): 57.01 million
Mario Kart 8 delivered an enormous quantity of racing goodness proper out of the field on Wii U and was solely a correct Battle Mode away from being prime of sophistication. The large twist this time round was the introduction of ‘anti-gravity’ sections which permit tracks to bend and twist on themselves in shocking methods. This does not influence the gameplay all that a lot however throughout anti-grav sections it is attainable to collide with different racers and achieve a small pace increase, including a welcome layer of tactical play. It is a recreation that regularly raises a smile and, sometimes, induces that trademark Mario Kart rage as shells strike and positions are misplaced. It is addictive, unifying, unfiltered enjoyable that pulls in anybody daring sufficient to take up the wheel.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe repackaged the unique for the hybrid handheld for the entire thousands and thousands of people that did not play on Wii U and added in that glorious (and sorely missed) Battle Mode for good measure. That is the head of the whole sequence; a quick, enticing, sublimely playable romp which has to rank as among the best racing video games of all time. It is the definitive Mario Kart expertise, content-rich and a pleasant feast of comedic, cartoonish karting motion. Important.
And the addition of 48 extra programs with the awkwardly named Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Go DLC? Effectively, that is simply extra icing on an already-grand cake, is not it?
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Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Lifetime gross sales (as of September 2023): 43.38 million
Animal Crossing: New Horizons takes the sequence and never solely drags it again onto dwelling consoles, however improves upon each single aspect possible. There’s extra to do, extra to see, extra to alter, extra to mould, and extra to like; followers and first-time gamers are going to search out themselves dropping hours at a time gathering supplies, creating new furnishings, and making their island undeniably theirs. Each second is unashamedly blissful, with excellently-written characters that really really feel alive and an island paradise that offers again infinitely greater than you set in. Again when Animal Crossing: New Leaf hit the cabinets all these years in the past and created a complete new technology of followers, many individuals had been questioning how Nintendo might probably prime it, however right here we’ve our reply. This can be a masterpiece that it is price shopping for a Swap (or two) to play.
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Sora
Lifetime gross sales (as of September 2023): 32.44 million
How does this ‘final’ model of Smash stack up in opposition to the remainder? Vocal considerations about previous video games had been actively addressed. Each single fighter from the sequence is current (even Pichu) and joined by a colossal roster of DLC characters from the annals of gaming (let’s not neglect that this is the sport accountable for bringing Banjo and Kazooie again dwelling to a Nintendo console). The customisability is overwhelmingly huge, and it’s all topped off with super-solid single-player modes as well.
We’re undecided how you would make a extra strong or pleasing Smash recreation. Tremendous Smash Bros. Final really is the final instalment within the sequence, and it makes you marvel the place Masahiro Sakurai can probably take this franchise subsequent.
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo SPD
Lifetime gross sales (as of September 2023): 31.15 million
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a landmark launch, each for its franchise and Nintendo. It was the primary time that Nintendo really took on the open-world style, and by arriving late to the occasion it embraced the strengths from top-of-the-class video games whereas additionally forging its personal distinctive identification. This recreation was a revolution for the sequence, however the Legend of Zelda essence continues to be there — its soul stays, and the tip result’s charming. After years of following the identical previous template, Nintendo bravely took Zelda in a brand new path, and delivered an absolute triumph which nonetheless has us frequently revisiting its iteration of Hyrule.
Breath of the Wild cast a brand new and thrilling path forward and we can not wait to see the place it takes the sequence.
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Lifetime gross sales (as of September 2023): 26.95 million
There’s an argument to be made that Mario 64 by no means acquired a ‘true’ sequel till this recreation: Sunshine’s FLUDD muddied the waters with its characteristic set; the Galaxy video games cleverly eschewed massive open worlds for impeccably crafted planetoids designed round particular gameplay components; 3D Land and 3D World had been intentionally constrained with linear design to draw gamers of 2D Mario into the third dimension.
Tremendous Mario Odyssey was a return for the ‘sandbox’ fashion of Mario journey gamers had been pining for since 1996, and it delivers every part you would need and extra. Cappy’s seize skills maintain issues recent in a recreation which blends all types of concepts and artwork kinds into an improbably coherent, compelling complete. It actually should not work, however New Donk Metropolis’s human inhabitants are in a position to co-exist with the anthropomorphic cutlery of the Luncheon Kingdom and the big-eyed cute characters of the Mushroom Kingdom clan thanks solely to the builders’ impeccable execution. The mechanical mastery on show right here is breathtaking; there is a joyful abandon to the sport which carries by means of each kingdom you go to, with so many distractions and issues to find. We do not envy the designers who need to provide you with Mario’s subsequent recreation, but when Mario Odyssey’s something to go by, completely something is feasible.
An completely exceptional entry on this most celebrated of sequence, then, and an important buy whether or not you want Mario or not.
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Recreation Freak
Lifetime gross sales (as of September 2023): 26.02 million
Pokémon Sword and Protect achieve bringing some new concepts to the desk, though there are areas the place it might be pushed additional. What’s performed proper is completed proper, however there are additionally components that really feel like they’ve come from a decade-old design doc. There are moments contained inside which can be the perfect the sequence has ever been, however this pleasure is sometimes spoiled by contrasting moments that left us disenchanted. It is an expertise stuffed with highs and lows, from the unadulterated marvel and pleasure of seeing a brand-new Pokémon in a stadium stuffed with cheering crowds, to the monotonous and dragged-out dialogue we simply needed to skip. The wonders of exploring the Wild Space really feel just like the true evolution of the sequence.
On the entire, Pokémon Sword and Protect had been a really stable begin to the HD technology of Pokémon video games, though there’s room for enchancment.
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Recreation Freak
Lifetime gross sales (as of September 2023): 23.23 million
There are nonetheless loads extra methods we’d wish to see the Pokémon franchise evolve however regardless of some evident technical hiccups, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet has us excited in regards to the sequence’ future. We actually hope Recreation Freak can work out the right way to easy out the sequence’ ongoing efficiency points on Swap as a result of they’re going to develop into a critical detriment over time.
Scarlet & Violet is most enjoyable and thrilling while you’re simply exploring the world, and whereas there are a lot of small new particulars and enhancements to the Pokémon method, it nonetheless performs it secure in just a few areas. Regardless, issues level towards a promising future for Gen 9 and past. It’s a smaller step than many could have hoped for, particularly contemplating what Pokémon Legends: Arceus did, however it’s positively one in the correct path.
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nd Dice
Lifetime gross sales (as of September 2023): 19.66 million
Current Mario Get together video games have had a considerably sterile really feel to them, however with Tremendous Mario Get together (the Swap’s first Mario Get together outing), that merely isn’t the case. This isn’t a money seize with Mario’s face on the entrance; this can be a well-constructed and superbly realised Mario Get together recreation which takes the sequence proper again to its roots, however with out being a simple rehash.
There are just a few attention-grabbing concepts that really feel a bit of bit underdeveloped — such because the overhyped Problem mode — however on the entire Tremendous Mario Get together is a real return to type after it felt just like the sequence was sagging on the Wii, Wii U, and DS consoles.
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Lifetime gross sales (as of September 2023): 19.50 million
It’s not possible to speak about every part that makes The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom so unimaginable, and making lots of these discoveries yourselves is a part of the magic. It’s additionally not possible to overstate simply how a lot there may be to do in Hyrule this time round. Very like its predecessor, that is your playground for the following nevertheless a few years to return, with a bit of sprinkling of that older Zelda fairy mud blended into Breath of the Wild’s method. It’s a wonderful, triumphant sequel to among the best video video games of all time; absolute unfiltered bliss to lose your self in for lots of of hours. We are able to’t wait to see what the world will do with the sport.
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Lifetime gross sales (as of September 2023): 16.70 million
New Tremendous Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a formidable package deal, providing the perfect of modern-era 2D Mario, madcap multiplayer and glimpses of the outrageous invention that was to return in Tremendous Mario Odyssey. It is a top-drawer Mario recreation and arguably the perfect of the ‘New’ department whether or not you play on Wii U or Swap, though ageing visuals and the irritation of being kicked again to the world map after each loss of life stand out as issues that might have been finessed on this Deluxe model. Nonetheless, with New Tremendous Luigi U included, this can be a very fantastic 2D Mario (and Luigi) package deal.
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Lifetime gross sales (as of March 2023): 15.38 million
For those who’re a health club addict you most likely should not throw out your membership card simply but, however for everybody else trying to get fitter, Ring Match Journey is a improbable strategy to do it that will not bore you mindless. Play it correctly and you may positively really feel it the following morning – a certain signal that it is at the very least doing you some good – whereas the compelling journey mode with its RPG components will make sure that you will maintain coming again for extra.
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Recreation Freak
Lifetime gross sales (as of December 2022): 15.07 million
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are stunning reimaginings of a online game traditional, updating a 20-year-old recreation in methods which make it infinitely extra accessible and user-friendly for a contemporary viewers, whereas preserving the magic first found all these years in the past. On the draw back, the movement management mechanic is enjoyable however flawed, forcing you to shift from one play fashion to a different to get the perfect expertise. Nonetheless, the sport does an excellent job of hanging a steadiness between being a straightforward route of entry for newcomers and providing simply sufficient post-game problem and aggressive play components (and nostalgia, in fact) to please sequence veterans; in consequence, these new titles actually do provide one thing for everybody, which may’t all the time be stated of the mainline Pokémon entries. They won’t be an absolute masterpiece, however we’d urge any Poké-fans on the market to present these ones a go.
