One of the most interesting things about video games is that certain types of games and genres sell really well in one country over the rest of the world. Or, a game will sell well in certain big markets, but do nothing in another. It doesn’t always happen, but it happens frequently enough to get people to take notice. Especially since the country this happens a lot with is Japan. And after looking back at two years of Nintendo Switch, the top game is surprisingly…Splatoon 2.
This comes from a list made by Famitsu to celebrate the Switch’s two-year anniversary. And they listed the top 20 Switch games sold in Japan. Here is the full list:
1. Splatoon 2 – 2,980,986
2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 2,885,281
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 2,185,049
4. Super Mario Odyssey – 1,940,587
5. Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu / Eevee – 1,425,935
6. Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 1,244,404
7. Super Mario Party – 950,068
8. Kirby Star Allies – 695,303
9. Minecraft – 651,275
10. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – 465,742
11. 1-2 Switch – 449,437
12. ARMS – 425,881
13. Mario Tennis Aces – 400,018
14. Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! – 306,250
15. Pokken Tournament DX – 301,429
16. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate – 254,017
17. Dragon Quest Builders 2 – 249,889
18. Nintendo Labo Variety Kit – 240,926
19. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – 227,296
20. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – 221,234
By why is this so surprising? Well it’s honestly because Splatoon 2 is only the second game in the Splatoon franchise (obviously) and the first one didn’t sell nearly as well in Japan as its sequel did. And everyone acknowledges that the sequel is more of a “refined take” than a “true sequel” in some ways.
You can likely chalk this up to how the Switch is selling infinitely better than the Wii U (well over double its lifetime sales now) and more people are trying out Splatoon as a result.
