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Nintendo Updated Software Sales Show Pokémon Fans Have Discerning Tastes
Are you wondering how your favorite Nintendo title is faring with fans? Nintendo has released an updated list of software sales for its biggest titles.
Alongside this morning's financial report for the year ending March 31, 2014, we have a new understanding of what fans are interested in across Nintendo's current and legacy platforms.
Wii U
- New Super Mario Bros. U - 4.16 Million
- Nintendo Land - 3.09 Million
- Super Mario 3D World - 2.17 Million
- New Super Luigi U - 1.76 Million
- Wii Party U - 1.35 Million
- The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD - 1.22 Million
3DS
- Pokémon X and Y - 12.26 Million
- Mario Kart 7 - 9.62 Million
- Super Mario 3D Land - 9.27 Million
- New Super Mario Bros. 2 - 7.82 Million
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf - 7.66 Million
- Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon - 3.98 Million
- Nintendogs + Cats - 3.5 Million
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D - 3.35 Million
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - 2.51 Million
- Paper Mario: Sticker Star - 2.21 Million
- Mario & Luigi: Dream Team - 2.08 Million
- Tomodachi Life - 1.85 Million
Wii
- Wii Sports - 82.54 Million
- Mario Kart Wii - 35.53 Million
- Wii Sports Resort - 32.58 Million
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii - 28.65 Million
- Wii Play - 28.02 Million
- Wii Fit - 22.67 Million
- Wii Fit Plus - 21.03 Million
- Super Mario Galaxy - 12.22 Million
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl - 12.14 Million
DS
- New Super Mario Bros. - 30.75 Million
- Nintendogs - 23.96 Million
- Mario Kart DS - 23.56 Million
- Brain Age - 19.01 Million
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl - 17.63 Million
- Pokémon Black/White - 15.58 Million
- Brain Age 2 - 14.88 Million
- Pokémon Heart Gold/Soul Silver - 12.72 Million
- Animal Crossing: Wild World - 11.73 Million
- Super Mario 64 DS - 11.03 Million
Our Take
There are a few takeaways from this. First, comparing Wii software sales to Wii U data is staggering, even when adjusted for time since release. Of note, Pikmin 3 has not sold 1 million copies yet.
Second, Pokémon seems to be on a decline, with X & Y a positive uptick. Black and White 2 didn’t even chart on Nintendo’s top DS titles sold, selling just under 8 million units. This leaves a range of 10 million between the current top performer (Diamond and Pearl) and the lowest (Black and White 2). It shows that projecting sales for the series in challenging, and that fans aren't guaranteed to purchase ever Pokémon title on name alone.
Despite saturation, Mario is still extremely popular across formats and genres. Whether 3D, 2D, or in another galaxy, the mustachioed hero still brings in the fans.
As for Mario Kart 8? If Nintendo hits its projections and sells 3 million Wii Us this year, the most copies it could sell are just over 9 million. 100 percent attach rates don’t happen, though.
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