There’s no denying that the Nintendo Switch is a popular console. It’s one of the three major players in the gaming market alongside Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox.
But Nintendo has made some unique and innovative choices with the Switch that differentiates it from the competition. And these features deserve some extra attention.
In this article we’ll first say a few words about Nintendo Switch and its history and then provide a table with the best-selling Nintendo Switch video games up to now.
A Console Built on Innovation
When the Switch was revealed to the public in 2016 people didn’t know what to make of it. Up until that point, there’d always been a firm differentiation between home consoles and handheld consoles.
You might be able to share data between the two. But for the most part companies with a handheld console would also market a totally independent console for the home.
In fact, that trend was started by Nintendo themselves when they released the original Gameboy at the dawn of the 90s. But Nintendo changed all that with the Switch.
The Switch was something new. It was a home console that was set to compete against the PlayStation and Xbox.
But the Switch was also a handheld that was in many ways the successor to Nintendo’s 3DS. This was all thanks to an innovative docking feature.
You can use the Switch at home by nesting it within a dock attached to your TV. This doesn’t just let you play Switch games on the TV. Using the dock also increases the performance of the Switch’s graphics processor.
One interesting point about the GPU speed increase is that it’s not actually coming from any hardware within the dock.
The Switch conserves power when it’s being used as a mobile device by slightly underclocking the GPU. And when it’s in dock mode, that underclocking is no longer needed.
It’s an elegant solution to the potential problems inherent with a powerful GPU paired with batteries that need to stay light and compact.
Nintendo also solved the potential issues inherent to external controls by creating “Joy-Con” controllers that can be used as an attachment for the Switch when it’s in portable mode.
And when the Switch is docked you can simply unhook the Joy-Cons for wireless play. All of these features make the Switch an elegant solution for people who want to enjoy games at home or abroad.
You can instantly grab your Switch from its dock and clip on the Joy-Con controllers. And it’s just as easy to toss it back onto the dock for a game on the big screen when you’re back home.
Newer Switch Models Build on Top of a Great Foundation
It’s clear that Nintendo put special emphasis on versatility and choice when designing the Switch.
It’s the first mainstream console that’s designed to let you game how you want anywhere you want. But the company has taken that idea even further by releasing a few variants on the main Switch design. The first is the Switch Lite.
The Switch Lite is primarily intended for people who only want to use the Switch as a portable system. The Lite uses a smaller screen to make it easier to carry around.
And because the Switch Lite can’t connect to a TV there’s no reason to disconnect the Joy-Cons from it. As such, the controllers on the Switch Lite aren’t removable.
The Switch Lite has two main advantages over the original Switch. It’s more streamlined for mobile use, and it’s significantly cheaper than the original model.
The Nintendo Switch OLED is the flip side of the Switch Lite. Instead of being a less expensive option in comparison to the original, the OLED is more expensive.
But that extra price comes with some nice perks. It has a larger and more vibrant screen than the original Switch. And the Switch OLED also has twice the internal storage as the original.
Now, let’s see the best selling Nintendo Switch video games showing the number of copies sold, the update date of the data and the launch date of the game title:
Best Selling Nintendo Switch Video Games
| Nintendo Game Title | Copies Sold | Genre | Developer | Publisher | Update Date | Game Release Date |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 48410000 | Kart racing | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 28/04/2017 |
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | 40170000 | Social simulation | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 20/03/2020 |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | 29530000 | Fighting | Bandai Namco StudiosSora Ltd. | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 07/12/2018 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 27790000 | Action-adventure | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 03/03/2017 |
| Pokémon Sword and Shield | 25370000 | Role-playing | Game Freak | The Pokémon CompanyNintendo | 30/09/2022 | 15/11/2019 |
| Super Mario Odyssey | 24400000 | Platformer | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 27/10/2017 |
| Super Mario Party | 18350000 | Party | NDcube | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 05/10/2018 |
| Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl | 14920000 | Role-playing | ILCA | The Pokémon CompanyNintendo | 30/09/2022 | 19/11/2021 |
| Ring Fit Adventure | 14870000 | Exergamerole-playing | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 18/10/2019 |
| Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! | 14810000 | Role-playing | Game Freak | The Pokémon CompanyNintendo | 30/09/2022 | 16/11/2018 |
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | 13910000 | Action role-playing | Game Freak | The Pokémon CompanyNintendo | 30/09/2022 | 28/01/2022 |
| New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | 13310000 | Platformer | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 11/01/2019 |
| Splatoon 2 | 13300000 | Third-person shooter | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 21/07/2017 |
| Luigi’s Mansion 3 | 11430000 | Action-adventure | Next Level Games | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 31/10/2019 |
| Pokémon Scarlet and Violet | 10000000 | Role-playing | Game Freak | The Pokémon CompanyNintendo | 20/11/2022 | 18/11/2022 |
| Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury | 9430000 | Platformer | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 12/02/2021 |
| Super Mario 3D All-Stars | 9070000 | Platformercompilation | Nintendo | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 18/09/2020 |
| Mario Party Superstars | 8070000 | Party | NDcube | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 29/10/2021 |
| Splatoon 3 | 7900000 | Third-person shooter | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 09/09/2022 |
| Super Mario Maker 2 | 7890000 | PlatformerLevel editor | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 28/06/2019 |
| Monster Hunter Rise | 7700000 | Action role-playing | Capcom | Capcom | 31/12/2021 | 26/03/2021 |
| Nintendo Switch Sports | 6150000 | Sports | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 29/04/2022 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | 6080000 | Action-adventure | Grezzo | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 20/09/2019 |
| Kirby and the Forgotten Land | 5270000 | Platformer | HAL Laboratory | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 25/03/2022 |
| Mario Tennis Aces | 4280000 | Sports | Camelot Software Planning | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 22/06/2018 |
| Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics | 4220000 | Tabletop game | NDcube | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 05/06/2020 |
| Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | 4120000 | Platformer | Retro Studios | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 04/05/2018 |
| Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity | 4000000 | Hack and slash | Omega Force | .mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}JP: Koei TecmoNA/PAL: Nintendo | 04/01/2022 | 20/11/2020 |
| Kirby Star Allies | 3980000 | Platformer | HAL Laboratory | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 16/03/2018 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD | 3910000 | Action-adventure | Tantalus Media | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 16/07/2021 |
| Fire Emblem: Three Houses | 3820000 | Tactical role-playing | Intelligent SystemsKoei Tecmo | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 26/07/2019 |
| 1-2-Switch | 3630000 | Party | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 03/03/2017 |
| Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa Mo Teiban! | 3500000 | Board game | Konami | JP: Konami | 22/03/2022 | 19/11/2020 |
| Paper Mario: The Origami King | 3340000 | Role-playingaction-adventure | Intelligent Systems | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 17/07/2020 |
| Minecraft | 3310000 | Sandboxsurvival | Mojang | JP: Xbox Game StudiosNA/PAL: Mojang | 22/10/2022 | 11/05/2017 |
| Among Us | 3200000 | Partysocial deduction | Innersloth | Innersloth | 31/12/2020 | 15/12/2020 |
| Yoshi’s Crafted World | 3010000 | Platformer | Good-Feel | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 29/03/2019 |
| Metroid Dread | 2900000 | Action-adventure | MercurySteamNintendo EPD | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 08/10/2021 |
| New Pokémon Snap | 2740000 | Photography | Bandai Namco Studios | JP: The Pokémon CompanyNA/PAL: Nintendo | 15/05/2022 | 30/04/2021 |
| Arms | 2660000 | Fighting | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 16/06/2017 |
| Xenoblade Chronicles 2 | 2440000 | Action role-playing | Monolith Soft | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 01/12/2017 |
| Mario Golf: Super Rush | 2350000 | Sports | Camelot Software Planning | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 25/06/2021 |
| Pikmin 3 Deluxe | 2230000 | Real-time strategypuzzle | Nintendo EPDEighting | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 30/10/2020 |
| Mario Strikers: Battle League | 2170000 | Sports | Next Level Games | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 10/06/2022 |
| Octopath Traveler | 2160000 | Role-playing | Square EnixAcquire | JP: Square EnixNA/PAL: Nintendo | 02/01/2022 | 13/07/2018 |
| Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker | 2130000 | Action puzzle | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 13/07/2018 |
| Dragon Ball FighterZ | 2010000 | Fighting | Arc System Works | Bandai Namco Entertainment | 31/12/2021 | 27/09/2018 |
| Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle | 2000000 | Tactical role-playing | Ubisoft ParisUbisoft Milan | NA/PAL: UbisoftJP/KOR: Nintendo[18] | 02/09/2018 | 29/08/2017 |
| Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX | 1890000 | Roguelike | Spike Chunsoft | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 06/03/2020 |
| Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! | 1890000 | Rhythm | Bandai Namco Studios | Bandai Namco Entertainment | 31/12/2021 | 19/07/2018 |
| Xenoblade Chronicles 3 | 1720000 | Action role-playing | Monolith Soft | Nintendo | 30/09/2022 | 29/07/2022 |
| Miitopia | 1680000 | Role-playing | Grezzo | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 21/05/2021 |
| Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition | 1680000 | Action role-playing | Monolith Soft | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 29/05/2020 |
| Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain | 1590000 | Puzzle | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 03/12/2021 |
| Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit | 1580000 | Kart racingaugmented reality | Velan Studios | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 16/10/2020 |
| Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 | 1550000 | Fighting | Dimps | Bandai Namco Entertainment | 31/12/2021 | 07/09/2017 |
| Pokkén Tournament DX | 1540000 | Fighting | Bandai Namco Studios | JP: The Pokémon CompanyNA/PAL: Nintendo | 02/01/2022 | 22/09/2017 |
| Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order | 1500000 | Action role-playing | Team Ninja | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 19/07/2019 |
| Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit | 1420000 | Construction kit | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 31/12/2020 | 20/04/2018 |
| Astral Chain | 1280000 | Action-adventure, Hack and Slash | PlatinumGames | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 30/08/2019 |
| WarioWare: Get It Together! | 1270000 | Party | Nintendo EPDIntelligent Systems | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 10/09/2021 |
| Naruto Shippudden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy | 1260000 | Fighting | CyberConnect2 | Bandai Namco Entertainment | 31/12/2021 | 27/07/2017 |
| Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch | 1200000 | Puzzle | Nintendo EPD, indieszero | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 27/12/2019 |
| Resident Evil: Revelations Collection | 1200000 | Survival horror | Capcom | Capcom | 30/06/2022 | 27/11/2017 |
| Game Builder Garage | 1060000 | Programming | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | 31/03/2022 | 11/06/2021 |
| Bayonetta 2 | 1040000 | Action-adventure, Hack and Slash | PlatinumGames | Nintendo | 31/12/2021 | 16/02/2018 |
| Enter the Gungeon | 1000000 | Bullet hell | Dodge Roll | Devolver Digital | 03/03/2019 | 14/12/2017 |
| Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes | 1000000 | Hack and slashRole-playing | Omega Force | JP: Koei TecmoNA/PAL: Nintendo | 17/08/2022 | 24/06/2022 |
| Fitness Boxing | 1000000 | Exergamerhythm | Imagineer | JP: ImagineerNA/PAL: Nintendo | 08/09/2020 | 20/12/2018 |
| Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm and Exercise | 1000000 | Exergamerhythm | Imagineer | JP: ImagineerNA/PAL: Nintendo | 09/12/2021 | 04/12/2020 |
| Shin Megami Tensei V | 1000000 | Role-playing | Atlus | JP: AtlusNA: SegaPAL: Nintendo | 18/04/2022 | 11/11/2021 |
| Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town | 1000000 | Simulationrole-playing | Marvelous | Xseed Games | 18/11/2021 | 25/02/2021 |
| Thief Simulator | 1000000 | Stealth | Noble Muffins | Forever Entertainment | 16/07/2021 | 19/05/2019 |
