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The Nintendo Switch has had another landmark month for game sales. Despite being over five years old, the console is still one of the hottest toys and tech devices on the market. Going into the 2022 holiday season, there are a couple of new titles you will probably want to get familiar with. This includes longtime Nintendo exclusives like Pokemon and other fan favorites like Sonic.
But what may be the most surprising is that launch titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild are still selling extremely well. Part of this is likely because Nintendo continues to release new content. However, it is still surprising just how well certain games continue to perform well while new releases fizzle quickly.
Switch Year to Date Sales Rankings
| Rank | Previous Rank | Game |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New | Pokémon Scarlet & Violet |
| 2 | New | Sonic Frontiers |
| 3 | 17 | Mario Party Superstars |
| 4 | 11 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons |
| 5 | 4 | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe |
| 6 | 1 | Mario & Rabbids: Sparks of Hope |
| 7 | 13 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |
| 8 | 7 | Super Smash Bros Ultimate |
| 9 | 5 | Splatoon 3 |
| 10 | 6 | Nintendo Switch Sports |
1. Pokemon Scarlet/Violet
Having just released, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet each managed to take the top place on the list of best Switch game sales for the year. Gamers have been patiently waiting for a new Pokémon game since Sword and Shield was released back in 2019. While this wasn’t the longest wait the Pokémon fans have had to go, it is nice to have another set of games come out on the switch.
The games keep largely the same format as the previous titles in the Pokémon series, but there are some minor differences. But the vast open worlds to explore as you try to catch all of the Pokémon are certainly one of the game’s major selling points. Both titles contain over 100 new Pokémon to collect, and of course, you can trade Pokémon with your friends.
- Collect over a 100 new Pokémon
- Play in the Paldea Region, filled with lakes and small towns
- The double pack contains both Scarlet and Violet games
- Receive a 200 Poké Ball bonus when buying the double pack
2. Sonic Frontiers
Sonic games on the switch, and Nintendo consoles in general, are nothing new. Similarly, Sonic has been exploring 3D worlds for quite a while too. But Sonic Frontiers delivers what many fans have been wanting for years. While not a Nintendo exclusive, Sonic Frontiers feels like the perfect game to play on the switch.
The gameplay consists of 3D platforming where Sonic gets to explore vast open worlds and collect rings. Although the game did sell exceptionally well leading up to and throughout the holiday season, it missed the mark for many critics. Both critics and newcomers to the Sonic series were both a bit disappointed by some of the buggy gameplay in an otherwise fantastic game.
- 3D platforming gameplay
- Play over five massive overworld islands
- Solve side quests and puzzles while playing
- Features an all-new battle system
3. Mario Party Superstars
Mario party games have been a blast since the Nintendo 64 era. Just as the title indicates, they are literally the perfect game for a party. Unfortunately, Nintendo has not yet released a new game for the switch, and Superstars was instead designed to be the perfect mashup of previous titles. When playing Mario Party Superstars, you will likely notice mini-games and boards from some of your favorite past titles.
Mario party Superstars was first released back in October of 2021, and it’s pretty remarkable how long it has remained popular. This popularity is very interesting because the game has not gotten the best reviews. Unfortunately, many fans were looking for an all-new title, and this just wasn’t it. Nonetheless, Superstars is still a great game, especially if you enjoyed the older Mario party games.
- Bring the party on 5 classic boards from the Nintendo 64 Mario Party games
- Show your friends and family who’s boss in 100 minigames from throughout the Mario Party series
- All game modes can be played online
- Matches with friends in board game mode are saved after each turn both locally and online—pick up where you left off
- Play using a single Joy-Con controller, two Joy-Con with the Joy-Con grip accessory, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, or Nintendo Switch Lite system
4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing is a unique title in the Nintendo lineup because it hasn’t been the most popular over the years. Despite that fact, Animal Crossing: New Horizons gained immense popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being one of the only games to be released around that time, it was something people sitting at home instantly latched onto.
Gameplay is similar to previous titles in the series, with its open-world offering plenty for players to do. On its face, the game is a life simulator much like The Sims, but Animal Crossing lets you play as unique characters rather than people. Extending Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ life is the fact that Nintendo continues to update and offer DLC content for the game.
- Open-world gameplay
- Build your own community from scratch
- Play as unique characters
- Can be played online with as many as 8 players
5. Mario Kart 8
Mario Kart is one of the most iconic and beloved racing games of all time. The newest title, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, follows very closely to previous games in the series where you get to play as a unique character from the Nintendo universe. If you’ve been keeping up with Mario games for a while, you may have noticed that Mario Kart 8 has been around longer than nearly any other.
The reason for this is largely due to the fact that so few people played it on the Wii U. Not to mention it is such a perfect Mario Kart game that there really isn’t anything to improve on. Much like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Nintendo continues to support Mario Kart 8 by releasing new tracks for the game. Additionally, the multiplayer is exceptional since it lets you play locally or online.
- 4-player multiplayer in 1080p while playing in TV Mode
- Every track from the Wii U version makes a return, including DLC
- All-new guest characters, along with returning favorites, such as King Boo, Bowser Jr., and Dry Bones
- Choose a new Smart Steering feature that makes driving and staying on the track easy for anyone
6. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
Mario and Rabbids first teamed up back in 2017 for the game Kingdom Battle. Although it was not the most popular Mario game on the Switch, it offered a nice departure from the status quo. Then in 2022, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope was released in October as a direct sequel to the first game. Even though it has not been out long, the fact that it’s not higher up on this list is strange.
However, Ubisoft even announced that Sparks of Hope underperformed, and they considered it a commercial failure. That’s a bit shocking, considering the game did receive pretty positive reviews despite having some problems with gameplay and load times. If you haven’t played Sparks of Hope or Kingdom Battle, they are turn-based RPGs that lets players assemble Nintendo and Rabbids characters to battle.
- Assemble Nintendo and Rabbids characters to battle
- Play as characters including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Rabbid Peach, or Rabbid Luigi
- Great strategic game
- Explore planets and uncover mysterious secrets
- Locate and save the Sparks
7. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a launch title on the Nintendo Switch. But much like Mario Kart 8, which was also released at the Switch’s launch, Breath of the Wild has remained immensely popular. It is also a drastic change from previous releases since the game lets players explore a vast open world that is almost too large.
Of course, there are also a lot of dungeon crawling and boss battles as well. In fact, Breath of the Wild very closely resembles the original Legend of Zelda game, as there are no rules, and you get dropped into an enormous landscape. Not only did lifelong fans of the Zelda series enjoy it, but new players did too, which has helped propel Breath of the Wild to be one of the best-selling games of the year and all time.
- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
- Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
- Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
- Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
- Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls objects and enemies in fun ways
8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Just like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. is a quintessential Nintendo game. It is one of the titles that every single Nintendo console has to have. The previous Super Smash Bros. game on the Wii U was fantastic, but Nintendo realized they needed to start from scratch and create an all-new experience from the ground up for the switch.
One of the best new features of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the campaign mode which allows you to go through various levels to unlock a plethora of characters. Additionally, Ultimate has the most characters out of any other Super Smash Bros. game. Of course, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate also has great multiplayer options.
- One of the quintessential Nintendo games
- Use campaign mode and unlock various levels
- Great multiplayer options
- Can play locally or online
- More than 80 playable characters
9. Splatoon 3
When Splatoon was first released on the Wii U, it was unlike anything gamers had seen before it. It came out before the battle Royale sensation really started picking up but also took on the genre in a nonviolent way. Since then, Splatoon has grown into a major title and one of the most popular first-party games by Nintendo spawning numerous sequels.
Splatoon 3 was released on January 9, 2022, exclusively on the Switch. The game is very similar to the previous games in the series, with both single-player and multiplayer modes. Splatoon 3’s story mode is pretty good and certainly worth playing, but most people play the online multiplayer modes like Turf War. Overall, Splatoon 3 offers just enough new content to entice players while not straying too far.
- Very popular first-party game
- Feature single-player and multiplayer modes
- Play with Agent 3 to fight the unruly Octarians
- Colorful action shooter game
10. Nintendo Switch Sports
The final best-selling game of the year to date in November is also a bit controversial. Nintendo Switch Sports promised to bring back the fun and nostalgia that gamers experienced on the Wii, but it didn’t quite meet expectations. The original Wii Sports game was a cultural milestone that introduced gamers to the Wii’s unique hardware.
But what truly set Wii Sports apart is that it was intuitive, and anyone could pick up a controller and immediately start playing it. Unfortunately, the new Switch game isn’t as great because the sports are pretty underwhelming. Only tennis and bowling return from the original Wii Sports. But that didn’t stop people from buying Nintendo Switch sports, and the good news is that Nintendo has released updates.
- Features 7 sports: Golf, Soccer, Volleyball, Bowling, Tennis, Badminton, and Chambara
- Soccer uses a Joy-Con with the Leg Strap (included in the physical version only) to kick the ball
- Multiplayer modes include 1v1, 2v2, or a free-for-all, but additional accessories (sold separately) may be required
- Multiplayer is available locally or online
- Nintendo Account and Nintendo Switch Online membership required for online features
Key Takeaways
It’s easy to draw conclusions from the above chart and all the games mentioned, but figuring out what games sell best is actually a little more complicated. This is why it is better to look at year-to-date sales sometimes rather than just monthly sales or even a rolling 12-month calendar. It’s also important to consider that the numbers provided in the rankings do not include eShop sales.
The fact that this list does not include eShop sales further complicates matters because it does not take into account titles that are only available digitally. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see how some games quickly rose to the top of the chart while others have stayed in the top 10 since release. Additionally, the list will change dramatically as Christmas gets closer and new games gain more traction.
- Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet Double Pack
- Collect over a 100 new Pokémon
- Play in the Paldea Region, filled with lakes and small towns
- The double pack contains both Scarlet and Violet games
- Receive a 200 Poké Ball bonus when buying the double pack
- Sonic Frontiers
- 3D platforming gameplay
- Play over five massive overworld islands
- Solve side quests and puzzles while playing
- Features an all-new battle system
- Mario Party Superstars
- Bring the party on 5 classic boards from the Nintendo 64 Mario Party games
- Show your friends and family who’s boss in 100 minigames from throughout the Mario Party series
- All game modes can be played online
- Matches with friends in board game mode are saved after each turn both locally and online—pick up where you left off
- Play using a single Joy-Con controller, two Joy-Con with the Joy-Con grip accessory, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, or Nintendo Switch Lite system
- Animal Crossings New Horizons
- Open-world gameplay
- Build your own community from scratch
- Play as unique characters
- Can be played online with as many as 8 players
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- 4-player multiplayer in 1080p while playing in TV Mode
- Every track from the Wii U version makes a return, including DLC
- All-new guest characters, along with returning favorites, such as King Boo, Bowser Jr., and Dry Bones
- Choose a new Smart Steering feature that makes driving and staying on the track easy for anyone
- Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
- Assemble Nintendo and Rabbids characters to battle
- Play as characters including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Rabbid Peach, or Rabbid Luigi
- Great strategic game
- Explore planets and uncover mysterious secrets
- Locate and save the Sparks
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
- Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
- Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
- Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
- Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls objects and enemies in fun ways
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- One of the quintessential Nintendo games
- Use campaign mode and unlock various levels
- Great multiplayer options
- Can play locally or online
- More than 80 playable characters
- Splatoon 3 Standard
- Very popular first-party game
- Feature single-player and multiplayer modes
- Play with Agent 3 to fight the unruly Octarians
- Colorful action shooter game
- Nintendo Switch Sports Standard
- Features 7 sports: Golf, Soccer, Volleyball, Bowling, Tennis, Badminton, and Chambara
- Soccer uses a Joy-Con with the Leg Strap (included in the physical version only) to kick the ball
- Multiplayer modes include 1v1, 2v2, or a free-for-all, but additional accessories (sold separately) may be required
- Multiplayer is available locally or online
- Nintendo Account and Nintendo Switch Online membership required for online features
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