The Best Selling Switch Games Of 2021

The Nintendo Switch is one of the hottest gaming consoles in the market right now, ending 2021 on a successful run with titles such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Monster Hunter Rise, and even the social deduction sensation Among Us. When it comes to the biggest bestsellers on the console, the Super Mario and Pokémon franchise has dominated the list with three and two entries respectively.

As stated by Nintendo Life, the list has also remained largely unchanged since the last update with no new games making a bestselling debut on the top 10.

10 Ring Fit Adventure – 12.21 Million Copies

The popular Ring Fit Adventure is not just a game but also an exercising experience with players getting a Pilates ring and a leg-strap along with the Joy-Con controllers. Hence, most of the game’s adventures are based on performing certain physical tasks with the aforementioned equipment. Several quests also involve fights with the Ring Fit Adventure antagonist Dragaux.

The Nintendo game’s popularity soared since the pandemic as people saw it as an outlet to exercise at home in times of gym closures. As reported by VICE, the game (normally priced at $80) was being sold at prices as high as $300 by resellers on Amazon and eBay.

9 Splatoon 2 – 12.68 Million Copies

Adding a new story-driven single-player mode along with a slew of online multiplayer modes, Splatoon 2 continued the ink battles between the Inklings and Octolings. Much like its predecessor, the unique aspect of the game was using ink as ammunition, painting a playground fantasy on the scale of a Nintendo Switch release.

With enough fun-filled multi-colored adventures, Splatoon 2 sold millions of copies with a sequel all set to release next year. Such was the game’s influence that it even spawned a manga series and its soundtrack ended up debuting at the eighth position on Billboard Japan’s Hot Albums chart.

8 Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! & Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! – 13.83 Million Copies

Connected with the mobile hit Pokémon Go, these two games share a similar Pokémon-catching system while retaining familiar elements from the franchise like battling NPC Trainers and Gym Leaders in Pokémon duels. Players can also trade their creatures while battling with other players in local and online modes. The Poke Ball Plus controller can also be an interesting add-on to use for motion control.

Apart from being one of the best Pokémon video games in recent times, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! broke Nintendo Switch records in 2018. According to IGN, the games sold 3 million units in their first week, becoming the fastest-selling Switch titles at the time.

7 Super Mario Party – 16.48 Million Copies

The eleventh installment of the Mario Party series was also one of the freshest ones as it made use of both classic elements from previous games while introducing new gameplay additions. The game board also saw the return of the turn-based gameplay that had been absent in the franchise since Mario Party 9.

The game sold 1.5 million copies in its first month itself, following up with increased sales in 2021. This made Super Mario Party the fastest-selling Mario Party game since Mario Party 6.

6 Super Mario Odyssey – 21.95 Million Copies

The mustached protagonist of Super Mario Odyssey saves Princess Peach from Bowser’s clutches. But this time, he teams up with a new ally called Cappy. This sentient cap allows him to travel to different kingdoms to defeat Bowser. Instead of a linear storyline, the game follows an open-ended 3D platform gameplay.

Often regarded as one of the best Mario video games of all time, Super Mario Odyssey sold nearly 22 million copies by this year’s September. As reported by GameSpot, it became the fastest-selling Mario game ever in Europe and the US.

5 Pokémon: Sword & Shield – 22.64 Million Copies

Just like Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee, Pokémon Sword and Shield were released together as companion pieces. The role-playing games deal with the Pokémon League Championships in the Galar region as the player must defeat the reigning champion, Leon, along with other Gym Leaders.

Apart from adding over 81 new Pokémon, Sword and Shield fared well in terms of sales. GamesRadar noted that both games outsold the Let’s Go franchise in a matter of six weeks.

4 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild – 24.13 Million Copies

A landmark example of modern open-world gameplay, Breath of the Wild found Link waking up after a 100-year-long hibernation period. To restore Hyrule’s former glory, Link must defeat the forces of Calamity Ganon. With endless possibilities in the open-world setting and a non-linear story set during the end of the Legend of Zelda games timeline, the game became an instant favorite among fans of the franchise.

With overwhelmingly positive reviews, sales were expected to be high with Breath of the Wild becoming the best-selling game of the franchise.

3 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 25.71 Million Copies

Uniting classic Nintendo franchises like Legend of Zelda, Megaman, and Super Mario, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate continues the tradition of pitting the various characters against each other in the campaign and multiplayer modes. The ambitious ensemble of characters along with nostalgic fighting elements ensured a positive reception for the game.

When it comes to business, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has not only managed to outsell other games in the franchise but it is also currently the best-selling fighting game ever (as reported by IGN).

2 Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 34.85 Million Copies

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is nothing short of a phenomenon in the pandemic era. The game allows people to create their own islands and develop communities in these settlements. Along with contributing to online social interactions, Animal Crossing: New Horizons also received several brand tie-ins, ranging from Joe Biden’s presidential campaign to fashion line launches by Valentino and Marc Jacobs.

With its popularity soaring during the COVID-19 pandemic, the game performed exceptionally well in the market and is currently Japan’s 2nd highest-selling video game of all time.

1 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 38.74 Million Copies

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an enhanced version of Mario Kart 8 as it adds variations of the Battle Mode along with more arenas and playable characters. Anti-gravity driving is another feature that allows the players to drive their karts on surfaces like walls and ceilings.

Seven years since its release, the game has become a beloved hit among Mario fans and continues to hold the record for being the best-selling Switch game of all time.

About The Author

Shaurya Thapa
(724 Articles Published)

Shaurya Thapa is an Indian freelance journalist who mostly dabbles in writings on cinema, music, and human interest features. When it comes to Screen Rant, he writes lists on a wide array of subjects ranging from international films to mainstream Netflix series and comic book trivia. He also hosts a podcast called ‘BhindiWire’, an Indian parody of IndieWire.

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