Switch surpasses 152 million, but falls just short of DS

Nintendo has released its latest financial report, confirming that the Nintendo Switch reached 152.1 million units sold by March 2025. The increase of 1.26 million compared to the end of 2024 brings the hybrid console closer to the historic mark of the Nintendo DS, which leads the company's ranking with 154 million units sold.

The Switch has already consolidated its position as the third best-selling console in gaming history, behind only the DS itself and the PlayStation 2, which leads with approximately 155 million units. However, even with the imminent arrival of its successor, the current model still shows growth, albeit at a slower pace.

Regarding games, the total number of copies sold on the Switch since its launch in 2017 continues to impress, with absolute highlight going to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which reached the mark of 68.2 million units — by far the best-selling title on the platform.

Top 10 best-selling games on the Nintendo Switch:

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - 68.2 million
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons - 47.82 million
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - 36.24 million
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - 32.81 million
• Super Mario Odyssey - 29.28 million
• Pokémon Scarlet & Violet - 26.79 million
• Pokémon Sword/Shield - 26.72 million
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - 21.73 million
• Super Mario Party - 21.16 million
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - 18.28 million
   

Among the recent releases, the numbers reveal a varied performance:

• Nintendo Switch Sports - 16.27 million
• Mario Party Superstars - 14 million
• Super Mario Party Jamboree - 7.48 million
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - 4.09 million
• Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2024) - 2.1 million
• Mario & Luigi: Brothership - 1.97 million
• Luigi's Mansion 2 HD - 1.88 million
• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD - 1.27 million
   

The data reveals a clear pattern: classic Nintendo franchises continue to lead, but some new titles struggle to reach the historic numbers of games released between 2017 and 2020.

Nintendo has also officially confirmed the arrival of the Switch 2, set to be released on June 5, 2025. The company projects 15 million units sold of the new console and 45 million games sold by March 2026.

With the Switch 2 about to arrive and expectations of strong sales, it remains to be seen if the new generation will maintain the same global appeal and longevity as its predecessor — which, even at the end of its cycle, continues to sell at a respectable pace.