Selling over two million additional copies since its last milestone in just three months is impressive, but it gets even better. Red Dead Redemption 2 is now officially the fourth best-selling game of all time, unseating Mario Kart 8. The latter has sold 8.46 million on the Wii U, and combined with the 69.56 million sold on Nintendo Switch with the Deluxe version, it totals a cool 78.02 million.

Not bad for a 2014 title that inexplicably beat out every other first-party Switch game in history, to the point where Nintendo released 48 new DLC tracks from 2022 onwards. But Rockstar’s magnum opus still beat it out. If the rumored Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2 versions ever materialize, could it soar even higher? Possibly, but we’ll need to wait until they’re a reality first.

In the meantime, as successful as Red Dead Redemption 2 has been, it’s interesting how much doubt was cast on it when development was behind schedule and over-budget, per former head writer Dan Houser.

If taken together with the original Wii U release, Mario Kart 8’s lifetime sales sit at a whopping 70.43 million. Other noteworthy milestones include Animal Crossing: New Horizons at 45.36 million sales, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at 34.22 million and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at 31.85 million.

As for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it’s sold 20.61 million since launching on May 12th for the Switch, up from the previous quarter’s 20.28 million. Check out the top ten highest-selling titles on the Nintendo Switch as of March 31st, 2024, below.

Perhaps the biggest highlight here is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. As of December 31, it stands at 60.58 million units worldwide. That’s up from 57 million units as of the end of the preceding quarter, with Nintendo attributing its boosted sales in part to the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Combined with the sales of its original Wii U version (which has sold 8.46 million units), Mario Kart 8’s total lifetime sales now stand at 69.04 million units. 

Meanwhile, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has sold 44.79 million units (up by over 1.4 million units), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has hit 33.67 million (up by over 1.2 million), and Super Mario Odyssey has sold 27.65 million (up by roughly 500,000 units). You can check out the full top 10 below. 

Top 10 highest-selling first party Nintendo Switch titles (as of December 31, 2023):

That, of course, means that Mario Kart 8 as a whole has now crossed a major sales landmark as well. The Wii U’s Mario Kart 8 and the Switch’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe have now collectively sold over 50 million units worldwide- 51.81 million units, to be precise, with the Wii U version contributing 8.46 million units to that total number. Those aren’t quite Grand Theft Auto 5 figures, of course, but GTA5 has been around a lot longer, to be fair.

Considering the pace at which Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is selling (and will likely continue to sell for some time to come), it’s not surprising that Nintendo has held off for so long on releasing a new instalment in the series. That said, recent reports have suggested that Mario Kart 9 is in active development- read more on that through here.

Nintendo recently also announced that the Switch has now sold over 103.54 million units worldwide, and also provided updated sales numbers for a number of first party titles, including Metroid Dread. Meanwhile, the recently-released Pokemon Legends: Arceus has also got off to an impressive start, having sold over 1.4 million units in Japan in its first three days.

Meanwhile, the perennially successful Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has moved back to the top of the charts, thanks to a 24% increase in sales over last week. Deathloop, which topped the charts on debut last week, has dropped down to No. 5, following an 82% drop in sales. 

Most of the other games in the top 10 are ones that figure in these charts frequently, including the likes of Minecraft, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Grand Theft Auto 5. 

You can check out the full top 10 for the week ending September 25 below.

The NPD Group has released its sales data for March 2021, detailing spending on video game software, hardware and so on in the United States. Though it didn’t top the charts, Monster Hunter Rise debuted in second and was the best-selling title on Nintendo Switch. In terms of lifetime dollar sales, it’s already ranked second among all the Monster Hunter titles till date with Monster Hunter World being first.

Outriders also had a pretty good debut (though it technically launched on April 1st). Along with being the third best-selling title overall, it was also the third best-selling title on Xbox and PlayStation’s respective charts. Mario Kart 8 continues to perform well, placing sixth in the charts, and becoming the best-selling racing genre title in US history.

Of course, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War topped the charts. It remained the best-selling title for both the first quarter and the 12 month period ending March 2021. Check out the full top 20 best-selling games for the month below.

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
   
2. Monster Hunter Rise
   
3. Outriders
   
4. Super Mario 3D World*
   
5. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
   
6. Mario Kart 8*
   
7. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
   
8. Animal Crossing: New Horizons*
   
9. Super Mario 3D All-Stars*
   
10. Minecraft
    
11. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
    
12. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
    
13. Pokemon: Sword/Shield*
    
14. Mortal Kombat 11
    
15. Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
    
16. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
    
17. Madden NFL 21
    
18. NBA 2K21*
    
19. Super Mario Party*
    
20. FIFA 21
    

*Digital sales not included

#15. MAKA WUHU

Set in and around an active volcano, Maka Wuhu is one of the most dynamic and visually diverse tracks in Mario Kart 7. From beautiful scenery and plenty of drifting opportunities to avoiding giant falling rocks and jumping off a cliff’s edge and paragliding through the air, Maka Wuhu keeps throwing interesting new elements at the player from beginning to end.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been at or around the top of the UK weekly charts for boxed video game sales for a few weeks now (and has been swapping places with FIFA 20 for a couple of weeks as well), and this week sees it returning to the top of the charts again, enjoying a 135 per cent week-over-week increase in sales thanks to renewed physical stocks (via GamesIndustry).

FIFA 20, which topped charts last week, has slipped down to third place, while Grand Theft Auto 5, thanks to a 47 per cent boost in sales, jumps up three places to the second spot. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe follow in the fourth and fifth spot respectively, while Final Fantasy 7 Remake has slipped out of the top 10 for the first time since its launch.

Returning to the top 10 are Minecraft for the Nintendo Switch – up from eleventh place – and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – up from the 22nd spot. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and Red Dead Redemption 2 round out the rest of the top 10.

You can check out the full top 10 for the week ending May 9 below.

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
2. Grand Theft Auto 5
3. FIFA 20
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
6. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
7. Luigi’s Mansion 3
8. Red Dead Redemption 2
9. Minecraft (Switch)
10. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

The NPD Group has released its February 2020 report (via VentureBeat) on video game spending in the United States. Due to the lack of major new releases, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare would top the charts, followed by NBA 2K20 and Grand Theft Auto 5. Total dollar sales for video game software amounted to $307 million, a 36 percent drop compared to last year.

Though Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was the best-selling game of the month and the best-selling game for the 12 month period ending February 2020, another title dominates sales for this year. It’s Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot which topped January 2020 charts and is currently in fourth place for February. The Division 2 followed in fifth place thanks to its massive price drop in preparation for Warlords of New York.

The only new release for the month was Yakuza Remastered Collection which released physically for PS4 and debuted at 33rd place. Expect March to be significantly better thanks to releases like DOOM Eternal, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Nioh 2, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. In the meantime, check out the ten best-selling games for February 2020 based on dollar sales.

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
2. NBA 2K20
3. Grand Theft Auto 5
4. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
5. The Division 2
6. Mario Kart 8*
7. Ring Fit Adventure
8. Madden NFL 20
9. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
10. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

*Digital sales not included

The NPD Group’s report for game sales in the United States for December 2019 is out. Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare topped the charts followed by Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order as total spending on video game software hit $2.984 billion as per VentureBeat. Total dollar sales are down 15 percent compared to December 2018. Video game hardware spending was down 17 percent compared to last year, totaling $973 million.

NPD Group analyst Mat Piscatella stated that, “December 2019 tracked spending across video game hardware, software, accessories, and game cards totaled $3.0 billion, falling 15 percent when compared to a year ago. Full year tracked spending declined 13 percent when compared to 2018, to $14.6 billion.”

Other best-selling titles for the month based on dollar sales (and not total units sold) include Madden NFL 20, NBA 2K20 and Luigi’s Mansion 3. Pokemon Sword, Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Pokemon Shield and Minecraft managed to fill out the remaining top 10. For some games, digital sales were not included while others – like Minecraft – only had digital sales from Xbox and PlayStation console included.

Despite the overall drop in spending, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare finished 2019 as the best-selling title of the year and marks the 11th consecutive year that the franchise has topped the annual charts. Meanwhile, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order became the sixth best-selling title of the year and is now Respawn’s best-selling title with regards to dollar sales. This is despite launching in November.

Check out The NPD Group’s top 20 best-selling games (in dollar sales and not units sold) for December 2019 in the US.

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
2. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
3. Madden NFL 20
4. NBA 2K20
5. Luigi’s Mansion 3*
6. Pokemon Sword*
7. Mario Kart 8*
8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
9. Pokemon Shield*
10. Minecraft#
11. Grand Theft Auto 5
12. Red Dead Redemption 2
13. FIFA 20
14. Just Dance 2020
15. Need for Speed: Heat
16. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
17. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening*
18. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
19. Super Mario Party*
20. Ring Fit Adventure

*Doesn’t include digital
#Only includes digital on Xbox and PlayStation