Nintendo’s hybrid console has hit a new milestone: the Switch now ranks as the third-best-selling gaming system in history, surpassing the Wii and pushing closer to the giants of PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS.
Only PlayStation 2 (155 million) and Nintendo DS (154 million) have sold more. With Nintendo projecting around 18 million sales for its current fiscal year – a number the company says has been constrained by semiconductor shortages – and at least one or two more years before Nintendo introduces a successor, the all-time crown is not yet out of Switch’s grasp. It’s an incredible turnaround from Nintendo’s previous hardware generation, when Wii U flopped to a meager 13 million units sold (versus Wii’s 101 million), and 3DS, while performing respectably, only managed half the sales of its predecessor.
Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that Switch hardware sales are slowing, and there’s a question mark over how many more major first-party games remain to propel them. After The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in May, Nintendo’s slate has Pikmin 4 due later in the year, an undated Metroid Prime 4, and that’s about it. Nintendo is likely weighing up whether its unannounced projects, and maybe even Prime 4, should be held back for its next console.
For the time being, though, Switch software sales remain more than healthy. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet shifted an incredible 20 million copies in their first six weeks on sale, making this already Twitter generation of Pokémon games ever. Splatoon 3, another recent release, has cruised to 10 million sales, while the Switch’s top seller Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has cracked the 50 million barrier with an astonishing 52 million copies sold, putting it in a very exclusive club with the likes of Tetris, Wii Sports, Minecraft, and Grand Theft Auto 5.
Here’s what the Switch’s all-time top 10 looks like now:
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (52 million)
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (41.59 million)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (30.44 million)
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (29 million)
- Pokémon Sword and Shield (25.68 million)
- Super Mario Odyssey (25.12 million)
- Pokémon Sword and Shield (20.61 million)
- Super Mario Party (18.79 million)
- Ring Fit Adventure (15.22 million)
- Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee! (15.07 million)
Overall, Switch has reached 994 million games sold, more than any other Nintendo console (thanks, presumably, to its thriving digital marketplace).
When Switch launched six years ago, few predicted the platform – based on hardware that was then already quite dated – could attain this level of success. But the simplicity of Nintendo’s pitch, combining home and handheld gaming in a single device, plus the traditional strength of its in-house software saw it through. The question for Nintendo now is whether to simply upgrade the Switch concept for a new hardware generation, or try something new. The former seems like a no-brainer, but Nintendo is a restless innovator, and many of its biggest successes – including the Game Boy, the Wii, and the Switch itself – came out of left field. Will it surprise us again?
What are the best-selling Nintendo Switch games of all time
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe leads as the best-selling Nintendo Switch game ever. It has sold 69.56 million copies as of September 2025, boosted by bundles and enduring multiplayer appeal.
Top 10 Best-Sellers
| Rank | Game | Sales (millions, as of Sept 2025 unless noted) |
|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 69.56 | |
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | 48.62 | |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | 36.93 | |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 33.34 | |
| Super Mario Odyssey | 29.84 | |
| Pokémon Scarlet and Violet | 27.61 | |
| Pokémon Sword and Shield | 26.96 | |
| The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | ~25 (est. from context) | |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | ~15+ (est. from context) | |
| Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee! | 15.07 (Dec 2022) |
Key Insights
Nintendo’s first-party titles dominate, with Mario and Pokémon franchises accounting for massive totals like 268 million Mario games sold. Figures come from Nintendo’s quarterly reports up to September 2025, reflecting hybrid portability’s role in longevity even as the console nears end-of-life in 2026.
What factors made Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the top seller
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe became the top-selling Nintendo Switch game due to its enhanced content, strategic bundling, and broad appeal.
Enhanced Features
The Deluxe edition improved on the Wii U original with added characters, battle modes, and the Booster Course Pass DLC, delivering 96 tracks and peak polish that kept players engaged long-term. Its refined multiplayer and accessibility made it ideal for parties, families, and casual play, outshining competitors.
Bundling and Timing
Nintendo bundled it with many Switch consoles, boosting attach rates to 44% of owners, far above typical games, especially during the system’s early hybrid popularity surge post-Wii U failure. Launching in 2017 as a “deluxe port” at launch-day record sales of 459,000 U.S. units capitalized on Switch hype.
Enduring Popularity
Constant sales dominance stems from replayability, no paywall for core content, and evergreen demand-many buy Switches specifically for it, sustaining 69+ million units by late 2025.
