Some of the games getting these updates are The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (version 1.4.0), The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (version 1.8.0), Pikmin 3 Deluxe (version 1.1.2), Super Mario Bros. Wonder (version 1.0.2), Kirby’s Dream Buffet (version 1.0.0a), Kirby Star Allies (version 4.0.0a), Super Mario 3D All-Stars (version 1.1.2), Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (version 2.2.1), Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain (version 1.2.0), and ARMS (version 5.51), among others.

All of these updates revolve around giving these games improved performance for the new console over how they ran on the original Switch. Along with performance boosts, quite a few games are also getting access to new features, including GameShare and even support for HDR displays.

The Switch 2 will be hitting store shelves on June 5.

Patch notes for Nintendo Switch games to run on Switch 2:

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Version 1.4.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added support for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, the voice content will use the language you select in the in-game options.
• Added support for the Sidon, Tulin, Yunobo, and Riju amiibo.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch:

General

• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, the voice content will use the language you select in the in-game options.
• Added support for the Sidon, Tulin, Yunobo, and Riju amiibo.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Version 1.8.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added support for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, if you select the Match System Settings option in the game, the voice content will use English.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch:

General

• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, if you select the Match System Settings option in the game, the voice content will use English.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe – Version 1.1.2

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Partially alleviated an issue that occurs when playing on Nintendo Switch 2 where the entire screen flickers during some scenes in the game, such as when a day starts and ends.
• We will be releasing an update in the near feature to fix this completely.
• Note: An update addressing the problem above has not been distributed for “Pikmin 3 Deluxe Demo ver.” However, we plan to perform the same fix as the full game in a future update.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Version 1.0.2

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.

Kirby’s Dream Buffet – Version 1.0.0a

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.
• Note: The version number in the lower right of the software title screen is still Ver. 1.0.0. The version number displayed in the software menu on the HOME Screen will display 1.0.0a if the update is applied.

Kirby Star Allies – Version 4.0.0a

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.
• Note: The version number in the lower right of the software title screen is still Ver. 4.0.0. The version number displayed in the software menu on the HOME Screen will display 4.0.0a if the update is applied.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars – Version 1.1.2

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.
• Note: The software update is required to play on Nintendo Switch 2.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Version 2.2.1

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.

ARMS – Version 5.51

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Frame rate: Optimized for Nintendo Switch 2 for smoother movement (even when playing with 3 or more players). Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• *Compatible with Ver. 5.4.1 for “local communication” and “LAN play”. Not compatible with Ver. 5.4.0 or earlier for “local communication” and “LAN play”. Please be aware of the versions of each other’s update data.

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain – Version 1.2.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added support for GameShare.
• Party Mode content can be played with up to 4 users.
• The user who will host the GameShare session should select “GameShare” on the mode selection screen after launching the software. They can then choose to use GameShare with Local Users or with GameChat members.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker – Version 1.4.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) support for improved image contrast and brightness. Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• Added support for GameShare.
• Two people can play all the courses, and each person can have their own unique display that is easier to see.
• The person sharing can press the – button on the title screen or course select screen or go to “Partner Adventure” in the pause menu and select “GameShare + Local Play” or “GameShare + GameChat.”

Club House Games: 51 Worldwide Classics – Version 2.0.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added Korean as a supported language.
• Added support for GameShare:
• You can play 34 kinds of games with up to 4 players.
• The user who will host the GameShare session should select “GameShare” from the main menu, then “Via GameChat” or “Play With Local Users”.
  The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch:

General

• Added Korean as a supported language.
• Several other adjustments and revisions have been made to improve the gameplay experience.
• Note: Update data with the above content will also be distributed for the demo “Clubhouse Games: Guest Pass” as Ver. 2.0.0d.

Game Builder Garage – Version 1.1.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Added support for Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. Up to 8 Joy-Con 2 can be used. (As up to now, 1 USB mouse can be used, as well.)
• As a result of improved processing speed, there may be some changes in behavior in games that were made previously on Nintendo Switch.
• Note: An update is also available for the Game Builder Garage Demo version to support the content above (Ver. 1.1.0).

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – Version 1.2.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury – Version 1.2.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Frame rate: Optimized for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2 (including Bowser’s Fury).
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) support for improved image contrast and brightness (Bowser’s Fury only). Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• Added support for GameShare.
• You can play “Super Mario 3D World” with up to four people. Press R on the course select screen for “Local/Online,” and then choose “GameShare + Local Users” or “GameShare + GameChat.”
• In “Bowser’s Fury,” two players can play, with one controlling Mario while the other controls Bowser Jr. Once you can control Mario, press the + button to open “Menu,” and then choose “Local/Online,” and then choose “GameShare + Local Users” or “GameShare + GameChat.”
• Note: Does have local user compatibility with Ver. 1.1.0. Does not have local user compatibility with Ver. 1.0.0. Please be careful of the update version on each player’s system.

Super Mario Odyssey – Version 1.4.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) support for improved image contrast and brightness. Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• Added support for GameShare.
• Two players can play, with one controlling Mario while the other controls Cappy.
• The user who will host the GameShare session should select “Resume 2P” on the title screen or “Two Players” on the Pause menu, then select “GameShare + Local Play” or “GameShare + GameChat”.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening – Version 1.1.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.

Nintendo has revealed that Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe will all receive such free Switch 2 enhancements. Super Mario Odyssey will add HDR support on the next-gen console, in addition to visual optimizations and improved picture quality, as well as GameShare support. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury will offer the same enhancements, though Bowser’s Fury will be the only one to add HDR support. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, meanwhile, promises improved picture quality on the Switch 2.

Additionally, Nintendo confirms that similar free Switch 2 upgrades will also be released for Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, ARMS, Game Garage Builder, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, and Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain. 

Free Switch 2 enhancements are also headed on the console’s launch day for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, as well as The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Link’s Awakening.

The list is as follows:

• ARMS
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
• Super Mario Odyssey
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
• Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Game Builder Garage
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
• Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
• Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain

The updates in question “may” improve performance or implement GameShare, but as Nintendo notes, the content varies from game to game. So if the fidelity of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet isn’t up to snuff, try not to be too disappointed.

Of course, it’s possible that Nintendo could release updates for additional titles in the future. Time will tell, so stay tuned.

The Nintendo Switch 2 arrives on June 5th for $449.99. Launch titles include Mario Kart World (which costs an eye-watering $79.99 digitally), Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, and much more.

Other noteworthy figures include Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at 34.66 million sales, followed by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at 32.05 million and Super Mario Odyssey at 28.21 million. Among the recent releases are The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom at 20.80 million, which launched in May 2023.

Despite impressive figures over their respective lifetimes, Nintendo noted a 41.3 percent decrease in software sales for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025. It sold 30.64 million software units for the Switch in that period, citing a lack of “special factors” compared to the same quarter last year.

Check out the top ten best-selling Nintendo Switch titles as of June 30th below, courtesy of Nintendo’s official site.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder does the same thing. When you start it and are confronted by the barrage of deranged lunacy of the first few levels, it almost feels like the game tipped its hand too early by putting all its best ideas upfront to make a strong first impression. Then you keep playing and realize that those ideas, which are strong enough to have entire games designed around, were the lesser ideas that Wonder felt comfortable “wasting” on introductory levels, because it has tricks waiting up its sleeve that are so much better.

Every level in Wonder is entirely different, recognizable by its own unique gimmick – or, in the exceedingly rare scenario where it reuses a gimmick from some earlier stage, from its entirely new spin on it. Every new course brings something new to the table. This is, of course, best exemplified by the eponymous “Wonder Seed” mechanic, which completely alters the stage when you find one, and changes rules dramatically. A Wonder Seed can do pretty much anything – the pipes in the stage might start moving around, animals might start stampeding, Mario himself might turn into a… sponge cake? The stage might start snowballing and destroying everything in its path, enemies might start singing in chorus, light and shadow, and weather conditions might all change, even camera perspectives can totally flip. There are nearly as many new Wonder Effect gimmicks in this game as there are stages – very few repeat – and nearly all of them are delightful, twisting and curving not just the stages they show up in, but also players’ expectations and their sense of understanding of what a 2D Mario game can do. 

The Wonder Effects are enough to carry a game by themselves – honestly, most Wonder Effects are strong enough to support an entire game by themselves individually – but Mario Wonder also benefits from the strongest, sharpest stage design the 2D series has had this side of Super Mario World. Now, don’t get me wrong, I actually think the New Super Mario Bros. games get a bit of a bad reputation. They were safe and sterile, yes, but their level design was exceptionally strong, and especially by the final game in the series, the now eleven year old New Super Mario Bros. U, the games were flexing some serious level design chops. But they still felt like they were constrained by a rigid rulebook and skeleton of what a 2D Mario level should be like. Mario Wonder throws that rulebook away.

"When you start Mario Wonder and are confronted by the barrage of deranged lunacy of the first few levels, it almost feels like the game tipped its hand too early by putting all its best ideas upfront to make a strong first impression. Then you keep playing and realize that those ideas, which are strong enough to have entire games designed around, were the lesser ideas that Wonder felt comfortable “wasting” on introductory levels, because it has tricks waiting up its sleeve that are so much better."

Even without the Wonder Effects, the levels are fantastic. They are incredibly varied – there are stage specific gimmicks and enemies in nearly every single one – and they play with 2D design conventions and ethos that 2D Mario simply has never attempted before. Over the last decade and a half, 2D platformers have had a veritable renaissance and we have seen some incredible top tier 2D platformer design – just not from Mario. Where games such as Celeste and Super Meat Boy iterated on 2D platform level design by giving us things such as rhythm based platforming, or dynamic foreground and background switching, 2D Mario just gave us more 2D Mario. Until Wonder, which finally catches up to where 2D platformers as a genre have been for a decade now, and brings the franchise back to the forefront of the genre that it once used to lead.

Arguably the single biggest change to how stages are designed in Wonder comes from the dispensing of the timer. Every 2D Mario game until Wonder has a timer on each of its stages. As time has gone on, this timer has gotten exceptionally generous – a lot of stages give you well over 5-6 minutes to complete them, and some even go as high as nearly ten minutes – but a timer on a stage existing at all means that the designers have to always consider that a player may simply not be able to stop and engage with the stage too deeply. This means that branching paths, secrets, and so on, while still able to exist in 2D Mario games before, were constrained by the presence of the timer. Where they were allowed to exist, they couldn’t be too elaborate because that would run up against the timer. And when they did exist, they, again, could not be too many in volume or number because the player would risk timing out if they tried to engage with everything.

The lack of a timer in Mario Wonder has a profound impact on how the stages are designed. These stages are dense, packed with secrets and things to discover in nearly every frame and pixel. Similar to Super Mario Odyssey, Breath of the Wild, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, or Luigi’s Mansion 3, it feels like almost everything in these levels can be interacted with, and when you do interact with it, you get something in return – some secret path, a Wonder Seed, a new part of the level you had not found before, coins and collectibles, or just some great audiovisual feedback if nothing else (we’ll come back to this in a bit). You’re always finding something, and this keeps you returning to stages, trying to see what you missed, maybe coming back with a new badge to try and get to a part of the course you had been unable to get to the first time around.

"The lack of a timer in Mario Wonder has a profound impact on how the stages are designed. These stages are dense, packed with secrets and things to discover in nearly every frame and pixel."

Right, badges! Another one of Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s big changes is how it handles its gigantic cast of playable characters. Wonder’s cast of 12 playable characters plays and controls identically – meaning character-specific abilities such as Luigi’s higher jump or Peach’s slow float are gone here, and every character controls the same, with the exception of Nabbit and Yoshi, who are invulnerable to damage and cannot take power ups (intended as “easy” characters for new players). Instead, those unique abilities are now tied to Badges. Depending on which badge you have equipped, you could get a better wall jump, get a flutter jump, or get better mobility in the water.

It would have been easy to stop there, but the developers go above and beyond with the Badges too, and there are all sorts of cool abilities tied to Badges, from ones that make things easier (you can always start with a Super Mushroom, or you can get a free rescue from a death once per level), to those that make things harder (you become invisible, not just to enemies, but also to yourself – have fun platforming!) to just ones that you can equip to better suit your play style. There are dozens of Badges, each of them bringing something unique to the table, and you can swap them at will. You can only ever have one of them on at a time – sadly no stacking Badge abilities to make OP or broken builds – but swapping them is easy and can be done at will except in the middle of a course, without penalty, and actively encouraged by the game.

Even without Badges, the game is a joy to play. The controls and physics are greatly improved over the slippery momentum that characterized the New Super Mario Bros. games, allowing for far more precise movement and platforming. Paired with the exceptionally strong level design, and the modifiers that the Badges and Wonder Seeds introduce, this is the sharpest playing 2D Mario game, well, arguably ever.

It’s also a 2D Mario game that makes a lot of concessions to modernity. The game saves after every level, foregoing the archaic and needlessly punishing save system of the past 2D titles, for example. Progression through the world is non linear, with you being given a whole bunch of courses available at a time, and being able to tackle them in any order you want (you can even choose not to do ones you are not interested in entirely). Levels are marked with a difficulty star rating on the world map, so you know upfront what you are in for. 

"The controls and physics are greatly improved over the slippery momentum that characterized the New Super Mario Bros. games, allowing for far more precise movement and platforming. Paired with the exceptionally strong level design, and the modifiers that the Badges and Wonder Seeds introduce, this is the sharpest playing 2D Mario game, well, arguably ever."

The world map itself is dense and packed with all sorts of secrets – the more you poke around, the more you find, from bonus rewards to hidden areas and levels to Badge challenges that you otherwise may never have found. And even with all this hidden bonus content, the game retains that sense of deranged inventiveness. 

Of course, playing great and being inventive is a key part of the Mario identity, but there’s something else, something that was lost in the 2D games for far too long – the sense of visual whimsy and charm, and the bizarreness of the Mario universe, was lost in favor of the strict adherence to bland and sterile corporate mandated “brand standards” with the NSMB games. Everything just looked and felt very… safe and samey.

Then there is Mario Wonder, which is dripping with personality in every scene, with the game’s aesthetics, animations, enemy design, music, everything just reeks of so much personality. There are animations for everything – when Mario gets attacked by a Goomba, the Goomba bites Mario. When Mario is attacking multiple enemies in a line, you can see the last one panic and start to run in the opposite direction. When you’re going down a pipe, you can see Mario slowly wiggling his way in and out. Each new power up has its own unique animation. There is so much charm, so much personality, in everything. The amount of times I’ll go in and out of a pipe, or swap power ups over and over, just to see the animations, is a testament to how well done it all is.

And it makes an incredible difference. The game has an energy and vibrancy that the NSMB series simply never had. Everything in the game feels responsive to the players, and consideration has evidently been given to to everything that the player might do, exemplified by the fact that there are unique and bespoke animations for pretty much every action and interaction you can think of (and they are different for different characters!). And all of this is backed with a gorgeous, color saturated palette, rendered at a full 1080p (720p in handheld mode), running at a near constant blistering 60fps with no dips (except for some transitions on the world map). It looks and runs gorgeous, and is arguably one of the best-looking 2D Mario games of all time.

All of this – the variety, the insane amount of content, the attention to detail with animations or basic QoL that I’ve discussed – of course conveys an incredible amount of care, the kind you would expect from a AAA production that literally had no deadline imposed on it during development, and this is evident in other areas of Super Mario Bros. Wonder too. Take, for example, the online connectivity in this game.

"The online functionality in this game is thoughtfully implemented, and it’s a joy, perfectly in keeping with the spirit of the game and the vision its developers intended, without compromising the actual functionality available to the player."

Online is one area Nintendo has historically struggled with almost no exceptions. They either don’t implement online functionality in their games at all, or when they do, they… well they don’t do it too well. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is one of those rare exceptions. The online functionality in this game is thoughtfully implemented, and it’s a joy, perfectly in keeping with the spirit of the game and the vision its developers intended, without compromising the actual functionality available to the player.

Mario Wonder’s online can best be described as – I swear this is not a meme – Dark Souls. When you are playing online, you can see shadows of other players from around the world, and you can see exactly what they are doing and where they are doing it. This can be helpful not just to find secrets in the overworld, but it can also serve as a different purpose – if you die while playing, you get five seconds to try and fly over as a disembodied ghost to one of the other players you are playing with. If they touch you, you revive and respawn right then and there, and continue the level without losing a life or your progress. You can, in turn, rescue other players as well. You can also drop “standees” which are basically cardboard cutouts, pretty much anywhere on a level. These standees can revive other players in your stead. You can leave them right before a difficult jump, or right by a secret, to telegraph to other players where they should be going. 

Playing online co-op with friends works the same way too. You can make a room for your friends to join, and then you all play your game independently. You can still see each other and bail each other out, but the game is no longer designed around all four of you playing together. It’s more about all four of you playing separately, together. It’s a great way to keep you connected with your friends without running into the net code issues you would run into with the Switch’s limited hardware and Nintendo’s lacking network functionality. 

Local co-op has seen some changes too. Local multiplayer works far closer to the traditional multiplayer in 2D Mario you may remember, where all of you are playing and progressing through stages together. However, even here, there are some changes. Collision is simply not a thing in Wonder, meaning you don’t get to bump into other players, or pick them up and carry them and throw them into pits, or any of the other shenanigans that you got up to in New Super Mario Bros. games. There is one exception to this – if you are playing as Yoshi, other players can ride you, and you can ferry them around the level.

"Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a statement of intent. With Wonder, Nintendo shows us that 2D Mario is no longer content to stay in its 3D siblings’ shadow, and will instead be every bit the genre leading property that Mario should be."

On one hand, I do miss that unique multiplayer experience in Wonder, but on the other, being freed from having to design each course around the presence of up to four players and characters at the same time is precisely one of the reasons the levels in this game are able to be so much more, well, insane than those in any past 2D Mario title, so it’s a worthy tradeoff.

After two decades of New Super Mario Bros., the 2D Mario games were in desperate need of reinvention. The NSMB series was good, but it represented a safe, sterile take on the Mario universe that led to the 2D games being left behind not just by the overwhelmingly excellent and inventive 3D Mario titles, but other 2D platformers made by other developers too. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a statement of intent. With Wonder, Nintendo shows us that 2D Mario is no longer content to stay in its 3D siblings’ shadow, and will instead be every bit the genre leading property that Mario should be. By re-injecting a healthy dose of whimsy and, yes, wonder back into proceedings, Super Mario Bros. Wonder makes the case for being one of the best 2D platformer games of all time, Mario or otherwise.

This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch.

For starters, the evergreen Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has continued to enjoy strong sales. With over 1.67 million units sold during Q1 (April-June) of FY 23/24, the kart racer now sits at 55.46 million units worldwide. Alongside The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it was the only first party Nintendo title to sell over a million units over the course of the three-month period. 

Speaking of which, Tears of the Kingdom, which has sold over 18.5 million units as of June 30, has instantly entered the Switch’s first party top 10 as well, entering at No. 9 above New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe and pushing Ring Fit Adventure out of the top 10. Its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, has also enjoyed steady sales, and has now sold 30.65 million units, up from 29.81 million units as of the end of the previous quarter. 

Meanwhile, Animal Crossing: New Horizons now stans at 42.79 million units sold, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at 31.77 million units, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet at 22.66 million units. You can check out the full top 10 and their updated sales figures below. 

Nintendo has also announced that the Switch’s worldwide sales have surpassed 129.5 million units.

Top 10 highest-selling first party Nintendo Switch titles (as of June 30, 2023):

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is something of a permanent fixture in these charts either way, has climbed up to second position after a 9% increase in sales, while Super Mario Odyssey has jumped up to No. 5, thanks to a 15% sales increase, facilitated partly by a Switch bundle. Then there’s New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, which has climbed up to No. 10 after a 23% boost in sales.

A number of Mario titles outside of the top 10 have seen sales boosts as well, including Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (No. 13) with a 21% increase, Mario Part Superstars (No. 20) with a 3% increase, Mario Strikers: Battle League (No. 30) with a 111% increase, and Luigi’s Mansion 3 (No. 40) with a 7% increase. 

You can check out the full top 10 for the week ending April 15 below.

Splatoon 3 launched in September for the Nintendo Switch and continues to be a major success, with 10.13 million units sold. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is at 1.81 million units sold, while Nintendo Switch Sports has sold 8.61 million. Pokemon Legends: Arceus may not have hit the same heights as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, but it’s still at an incredible 14.63 million units sold.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe has sold 14.75 million units since coming to the Switch, while Luigi’s Mansion 3 is at 12.44 million and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is at 10.82 million. Mario Party Superstars sold 9.38 million, while Mario Strikers: Battle League managed to hit 2.47 million units sold. Finally, Kirby and the Forgotten Land has sold a respectable 6.12 million units sold.

2020 is done and over. It was a year almost assuredly many won’t forget, even if they desperately want to. The final month of the year tends to be something of a snapshot of the entire year, and December 2020 wasn’t much different. In the US, the charts had a lot of the usual suspects, with one franchise on top as you’d expect it to be, and Nintendo in the strongest position they’ve been in in decades.

As per data provided by the NPD Group (via VentureBeat), December’s top 20 saw Black Ops Cold War at #1, which is no surprise since it was also the best selling game of the year in the region. Right below it was Cyberpunk 2077, which we know sold at least 13 million copies last month in total across all regions. Keep in mind, 2077 hits this list without digital sales, apparently. Whether that would have helped it topple Cold War is somewhat iffy, but even so, number 2 is impressive.

While the rest of the list is populated by a lot of games you’d expect such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Miles Morales, and the various sports entries, what is maybe the most noteworthy is how much Nintendo dominated this list. Their first party titles are seeing strong sales all throughout, even early releases such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and many of the sports titles are on the Switch and being factored in such as NBA 2K21 and FIFA 21. All Nintendo first party titles are also in here without digital numbers being provided, just to add to how incredible a feat it is.

1.  Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
2. Cyberpunk 2077*
3. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
4. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
5. Madden NFL 21
6. Animal Crossing: New Horizons*
7. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe*
8. NBA 2K21*
9. Immortals Fenyx Rising
10. Super Mario 3D All-Stars*
11. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
12. Just Dance 2021
13. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity*
14. FIFA 21
15. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
16. Super Mario Odyssey*
17. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
18. Super Mario Party*
19. Ring Fit Adventure
20. Mortal Kombat 11

* Indicates that digital sales are not included.

Super Mario Party

The infamous ruiner of friendships debuts for the Nintendo Switch. Super Mario Party takes the more traditional approach to the series’ formula, introducing new mini-games, some with motion controls, and a new mode called Partner Party where teams of two can work together. There’s even a mode called Toad’s Rec Room where multiple Switches can be combined for gameplay across multiple screens. Super Mario Party captures the amazing feeling of losing to never-ending nonsense, which may or may not be your definition of a good time.