Switch 2’s First Million-Seller in Japan? Mario Kart World Takes the Lead

Image: Mario Kart World's Cow

Mario Kart World has sold over one million physical copies in Japan alone, less than a month after launching alongside the Nintendo Switch 2.

That makes it the first Switch 2 game to sell over 1 million units in Japan and is the best-selling Switch 2 game by a mile.

According to Famitsu's latest weekly report, Mario Kart World sold an additional 122,578 units during the week of June 16–22, bringing its cumulative physical sales in Japan to 1,044,044 units. That puts it well ahead of other recent releases, including Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, which launched across multiple platforms but only managed to sell 21k.

This strong performance isn’t entirely surprising. Mario Kart World has been positioned as the flagship title for the Switch 2, showcasing new features that expand the series in bold directions. One of the biggest changes is the introduction of a free-roam open world, allowing players to explore expansive tracks and environments in a way that hasn’t been done in previous entries.

It also brought in a new “Knockout Tour” mode, shifting the gameplay dynamics further. However, not all changes have been met with universal praise — notably, Nintendo trimmed the roster to focus solely on Mario universe characters, removing cross-franchise appearances that were present in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

The momentum isn’t limited to just software. On the hardware front, the Switch 2 continues to dominate the Japanese market, moving another 140,026 units during the same tracking week. That brings its lifetime sales to 1.24 million consoles in Japan. Interestingly, the combined sales of older Switch models — Lite and OLED — still outperformed the PlayStation 5 and its variants during the same period, a sign that the Switch ecosystem remains strong across the board.

Globally, the Switch 2 is also performing exceptionally well. As per previous reports, the console’s first week in the United States saw over 1.1 million units sold, marking a record-breaking launch for Nintendo. Mario Kart World has been closely tied to this success, often bundled with the console or serving as a day-one purchase for new buyers.

The rest of the Japanese software charts also show some interesting trends. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time and Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma continue to hold their ground on the Switch platform. Meanwhile, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild, both re-released as enhanced “Switch 2 Editions,” are still maintaining a spot in the top 10, reinforcing the appeal of legacy titles in Nintendo’s catalog.

Looking ahead, Nintendo doesn’t seem to be slowing down. The company has lined up a series of major first-party titles for the Switch 2, including Donkey Kong Bananza, which will be the first 3D platformer in the series since Donkey Kong 64. There’s also anticipation for Kirby Air Riders, as well as updated versions of Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon Legends: Z-A tailored specifically for the new hardware.

So, while Mario Kart World is clearly leading the charge right now, it may soon be joined by a growing lineup of heavy-hitters.