Guide: Best-Selling Nintendo Switch Games - Every First-Party Title To Pass One Million Sales

The Nintendo Switch has undeniably cemented its position as a titan in the gaming world. Gaming News is here to provide you with an in-depth look at the best-selling first-party titles that have propelled the console to unparalleled success. Based on the latest official figures, including Nintendo’s Q2 FY2026 financial report, we delve into the impressive sales numbers that demonstrate the phenomenal popularity of these games. As of now, the Switch boasts the highest number of software sales of any Nintendo console, surpassing one billion games sold since its launch in March 2017. Let’s explore the games that have driven this remarkable achievement.

The Million-Seller Club: Nintendo Switch’s Chart-Topping Titles

The Nintendo Switch’s library is filled with iconic games that have resonated with players of all ages. These titles, developed and published by Nintendo, have not only achieved critical acclaim but have also attained massive commercial success. We will present each of these million-selling games, dissecting their gameplay mechanics, exploring their cultural impact, and analyzing the factors that contributed to their remarkable sales figures.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: The King of the Track

Unsurprisingly, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe leads the pack as the best-selling Nintendo Switch game. This kart racing extravaganza builds upon the foundation of its Wii U predecessor, offering a wealth of content, including all previously released DLC, along with new characters, karts, and battle modes. Its accessibility, coupled with its competitive depth, makes it a favorite among casual and hardcore gamers alike. The game’s vibrant visuals, tight controls, and addictive gameplay loop have solidified its status as a must-have title for any Switch owner.

Key Features of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

• Extensive Roster: Featuring a diverse cast of characters from the Mario universe, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, and many more.
• Variety of Tracks: Boasting a massive selection of courses, both new and returning, inspired by various locations from the Mario franchise.
• Customization Options: Allowing players to personalize their karts with different parts and tires, each affecting performance.
• Battle Mode: Offering a range of competitive modes, such as Balloon Battle, Bob-omb Blast, and Shine Thief.
• Online Multiplayer: Supporting online races and battles with players from around the world.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons: A Social Simulation Phenomenon

Animal Crossing: New Horizons took the world by storm upon its release, becoming a cultural phenomenon during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its relaxing gameplay, charming characters, and endless customization options provided players with a much-needed escape from reality. The game’s social features allowed players to connect with friends and family, fostering a sense of community during a time of isolation. Its continuous updates and seasonal events have kept players engaged for years, ensuring its continued success.

Key Features of Animal Crossing: New Horizons

• Island Customization: Giving players complete control over the layout and design of their own deserted island.
• Villager Interactions: Featuring a cast of adorable animal villagers with unique personalities and quirks.
• Crafting and Collecting: Allowing players to craft furniture, tools, and clothing, as well as collect bugs, fish, and fossils.
• Seasonal Events: Offering a variety of themed events throughout the year, such as Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.
• Online Play: Enabling players to visit each other’s islands, trade items, and participate in activities together.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: The Ultimate Crossover Brawler

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a celebration of gaming history, bringing together a massive roster of characters from various franchises into one epic fighting game. Its fast-paced action, deep combat mechanics, and sheer variety of content have made it a critical and commercial success. The game’s single-player campaign, World of Light, offers a compelling adventure, while its multiplayer modes provide endless hours of competitive fun.

Key Features of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

• Largest Roster Ever: Featuring over 80 playable characters from franchises like Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, and many more.
• Variety of Stages: Boasting a massive selection of stages inspired by iconic locations from gaming history.
• Customizable Rulesets: Allowing players to tailor the gameplay experience to their preferences.
• Spirits Mode: Offering a unique way to enhance characters with abilities and buffs.
• Online Multiplayer: Supporting online battles with players from around the world.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: A Revolutionary Open-World Adventure

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild redefined the open-world genre with its innovative gameplay mechanics, stunning visuals, and immersive world. Its non-linear structure allows players to explore Hyrule at their own pace, discovering secrets and completing quests in any order they choose. The game’s physics-based interactions and environmental puzzles provide a level of freedom and creativity that is rarely seen in open-world games.

Key Features of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

• Open-World Exploration: Allowing players to freely explore a vast and interconnected world.
• Physics-Based Interactions: Featuring a dynamic physics engine that allows players to interact with the environment in creative ways.
• Weapon Durability: Adding a layer of strategy to combat, as weapons can break after repeated use.
• Cooking and Crafting: Enabling players to create meals and potions to restore health and enhance abilities.
• Compelling Story: Telling a captivating tale of courage, sacrifice, and redemption.

Super Mario Odyssey: A Globe-Trotting Platformer

Super Mario Odyssey is a return to form for the 3D Mario platformer, offering a collection of diverse and imaginative kingdoms to explore. Its innovative Cappy mechanic allows Mario to possess enemies and objects, granting him new abilities and opening up new possibilities for gameplay. The game’s vibrant visuals, tight controls, and sense of wonder have made it a critical and commercial success.

Key Features of Super Mario Odyssey

• Cappy Mechanic: Allowing Mario to possess enemies and objects, gaining their abilities.
• Diverse Kingdoms: Featuring a variety of imaginative and unique worlds to explore.
• Collectibles: Offering a wealth of collectibles to discover, including Power Moons and regional coins.
• Co-op Mode: Enabling a second player to control Cappy and assist Mario.
• Post-Game Content: Providing a challenging set of post-game challenges and secrets to uncover.

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield: The Next Generation of Pokémon

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield introduced a new generation of Pokémon to the Nintendo Switch, featuring a new region, new characters, and new gameplay mechanics. The games’ expansive Wild Area allows players to freely explore and encounter Pokémon in their natural habitats. The Dynamax and Gigantamax features add a new layer of strategy to battles, while the online raid battles provide a cooperative experience.

Key Features of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield

• New Region: Introducing the Galar region, inspired by the United Kingdom.
• New Pokémon: Featuring a new generation of Pokémon to discover and collect.
• Wild Area: Allowing players to freely explore a vast open area filled with Pokémon.
• Dynamax and Gigantamax: Enabling Pokémon to grow to enormous sizes during battles.
• Raid Battles: Offering a cooperative experience where players can team up to battle powerful Dynamax Pokémon.

Super Mario Party: The Ultimate Party Game

Super Mario Party brought the classic Mario Party formula to the Nintendo Switch, featuring new boards, new minigames, and new characters. The game’s strategic dice rolling and competitive minigames make it a perfect choice for parties and gatherings. The Partner Party mode allows players to team up and explore the board together, while the online modes provide a way to connect with friends and family remotely.

Key Features of Super Mario Party

• New Boards: Featuring a variety of themed boards with unique events and challenges.
• New Minigames: Offering a collection of new and classic minigames to test players’ skills.
• Partner Party Mode: Allowing players to team up and explore the board together.
• Online Modes: Providing a way to connect with friends and family remotely.
• Character-Specific Dice: Adding a layer of strategy to the dice rolling mechanic.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe: Classic 2D Mario Action

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe brought the classic 2D Mario platforming experience to the Nintendo Switch, featuring challenging levels, hidden secrets, and a variety of playable characters. The game’s accessible controls and familiar gameplay make it a great choice for players of all ages. The addition of Nabbit as a playable character provides a unique challenge for experienced players.

Key Features of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

• Challenging Levels: Featuring a variety of challenging levels to test players’ platforming skills.
• Hidden Secrets: Offering a wealth of hidden secrets to discover, including Star Coins and secret exits.
• Playable Characters: Featuring Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and Nabbit as playable characters.
• Boost Rush Mode: Providing a fast-paced and challenging mode for experienced players.
• Super Luigi U: Including the challenging Super Luigi U campaign, featuring shorter levels and a stricter time limit.

Luigi’s Mansion 3: A Spooky and Hilarious Adventure

Luigi’s Mansion 3 takes Luigi on a spooky and hilarious adventure through a haunted hotel. Its innovative gameplay mechanics, charming characters, and stunning visuals have made it a critical and commercial success. The game’s cooperative mode allows players to team up and explore the hotel together, solving puzzles and battling ghosts.

Key Features of Luigi’s Mansion 3

• Haunted Hotel Setting: Featuring a sprawling and spooky hotel filled with ghosts and puzzles.
• Gooigi: Introducing Gooigi, a gelatinous version of Luigi that can squeeze through tight spaces and help solve puzzles.
• Poltergust G-00: Allowing Luigi to suck up ghosts and interact with the environment.
• Co-op Mode: Enabling players to team up and explore the hotel together.
• ScareScraper Mode: Providing a challenging multiplayer mode where players must clear floors of ghosts within a time limit.

Splatoon 2: Colorful Turf Wars

Splatoon 2 brings its unique brand of ink-based warfare to the Nintendo Switch, featuring new weapons, new stages, and a new single-player campaign. The game’s fast-paced action, strategic gameplay, and vibrant visuals have made it a fan favorite. The Salmon Run mode provides a cooperative experience where players must team up to defeat waves of enemies.

Key Features of Splatoon 2

• Turf War Mode: Challenging players to cover the map with their team’s ink.
• New Weapons: Featuring a variety of new weapons, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses.
• New Stages: Offering a collection of new stages to battle on, each with its own layout and challenges.
• Salmon Run Mode: Providing a cooperative experience where players must team up to defeat waves of enemies.
• Single-Player Campaign: Telling a compelling story about the Octarians and their quest for power.

Analyzing the Success Factors

The success of these first-party Nintendo Switch games can be attributed to several factors. Nintendo’s commitment to quality, innovation, and accessibility has resulted in games that appeal to a wide audience. The Switch’s unique hybrid design, allowing players to enjoy games both on the go and at home, has also contributed to its popularity. Furthermore, Nintendo’s strong brand recognition and loyal fanbase have ensured that its games are highly anticipated and eagerly purchased.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Nintendo Switch Games

As the Nintendo Switch continues to thrive, we can expect to see even more best-selling first-party titles in the future. Nintendo’s dedication to creating engaging and innovative games ensures that the Switch’s library will continue to grow and evolve. With the upcoming release of highly anticipated titles like [mention anticipated titles, replace bracketed text], the future of the Nintendo Switch looks bright.

We at Gaming News are committed to bringing you the latest news, reviews, and analysis of all things Nintendo. Stay tuned for more updates on the best-selling Nintendo Switch games and the future of the platform.