The latest Famitsu’s Japanese chart figures have been released and, yet again, Nintendo is dominating. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is topping that list. Of the top ten physical video game sales from August 17 through August 23, nine are Nintendo Switch games. And of the top thirty games, twenty-six are Nintendo Switch games, providing proof of the Big N’s supremacy.
It is not surprising to see Animal Crossing top the list with 42,863 physical copy sales, as recently New Horizons became the second highest-selling game in Japan’s history. The game has now sold 5.6 million physical copy sales. The lovable, cute, relaxing game came at the perfect time, as the stress-filled world pandemic forced players indoors and Animal Crossing relieved tensions and allowed players to explore ‘outside.’
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The second highest-selling game on the list could be a bit more surprising, however, as Ring Fit Adventure sold 30,689 copies, with nearly 1.4 million games sold since the launch. The third best-selling game during the period was the only non-Nintendo game on the list, Ghost of Tsushima, which has sold well since its launch.
Other notable games on the list would include Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics at four on the list, the hilarious Paper Mario: The Origami King at seven, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate rounding off the list ten. The ever-popular Splatoon 2 is also on the list at nine, a game that is certainly enjoyed in the United States but is absolutely beloved in Japan, as the once highest-selling Switch title before New Horizons took the throne.
The Animal Crossing train doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon. New Horizons has sold over 22 million copies worldwide since the launch, a number not many would have predicted. With the Switch becoming more available lately, and the holiday push sure to help, it’s possible that Animal Crossing hits 30 million at some point this year.
One of the things that will make everything even more interesting is if the rumored Nintendo Switch Pro releases next year. If players have the Switch Lite as a dedicated handheld to choose from and a more powerful sleek Switch Pro to play next-gen-esque games on the go or the big screen, Nintendo may find a perfect balance.
Nintendo dominating the Japanese market is part of the reason why analysts think that the PlayStation 5 will not win the holiday, but the Nintendo Switch will. Handhelds have always found remarkable success in Japan, so it makes a lot of sense that Nintendo’s hybrid is finding itself in the hands of countless gamers. And with so many fun first party, third party, and indie titles to choose from, it’s likely that the Nintendo Switch software sales will continue to top the charts.
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Source: Nintendolife