
Japanese Game Sales for Dec. 16–22, 2024, Dominated by Nintendo | Image Source: gonintendo.com
TOKYO, Japan, 26 December 2024 – The latest game sales data from Japan were revealed, providing information on hardware software and performance for the week of 16-22 December 2024. According to Famitsu, according to GoNintendo, Nintendo continues to dominate both software and hardware graphics, driven by strong returns from inherited and recent titles.
The leader in software sales is Super Mario Party Jamboree, which sold 133,542 copies during the week, pushing its combined sales to 835,085 units since its release on October 17, 2024. Square Enix HD-2D’s Dragon III Remake secure second place quest with 38,088 units sold, reaching a lifetime turnover of 894,671. Other titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Minecraft and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate also maintained its popularity among players.
Best Software Sales Experts
Nintendo Switch titles dominated the list of the top 10 games of the week. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, despite its release in April 2017, continues to seduce the players, selling 24,019 units to reach a total cumulative sales of more than 6.1 million. Microsoft’s Minecraft, another long-time favourite, recorded sales of 23,131 units, bringing its life history to an impressive 3.7 million.
News like Mario & Luigi: Fraternité, launched on November 7, 2024, also made a brand, selling 22,237 units to reach a cumulative total of 148,380. Other paintings include The Legend of Zelda: Wisdom Ecos, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Pokemon Scarlet / Pokemon Violet. These titles highlight Nintendo’s continued ability to capture various players’ interests through a combination of adventure, simulation and competitive gaming experiences.
Performance of equipment sales
The hardware segment saw robust sales driven by the sustainable popularity of the Nintendo Switch platform. Although sales figures for equipment were not disclosed in the report, past trends indicate that the console is able to overcome its competitors in a consistent manner. According to GoNintendo, the strong alignment between first-party software and hardware demand remains an important factor in the success of the Switch.
Nintendo’s recovery strategy, like Dragon Quest III HD-2D, as well as iconic titles, has also strengthened hardware fixation rates. The perfect integration of family titles such as Super Mario Party Jamboree increases the platform’s appeal to a broad demographic.
Inherited titles Continue to shine
Legacy titles remain a cornerstone of the Japanese gambling market. Animal Crossing: New Horizon, first published in March 2020, added 15,536 copies to its incredible total of over 8 million copies sold. Also, Super Smash Bros. Recently, launched in December 2018, it maintained its position with 18,178 units sold, for a cumulative total of 5.6 million.
These sales highlight the permanence power of the Nintendo game catalogue, with titles that achieve sustained success years after release. This trend reflects the developer’s approach to creating ever-green games with lasting appeal.
The role of seasonal demand
Data from December 16 to 22, 2024 also highlight the impact of the holiday season on game sales. Traditionally, this period leads to an increase in purchases while consumers buy gifts and take advantage of holiday promotions. Strong weekly sales figures for software and hardware suggest that Nintendo’s marketing strategies have effectively capitalized on this seasonal demand.
As GoNintendo said, the alignment of popular versions of the game with holiday shopping models gave a significant boost to the gaming industry during this critical period. The relevance of the old titles indicates that players are not only looking for new experiences but are also rediscovering classic games that offer sustainable entertainment value.
In general, the Japanese gaming market remains dynamic and strongly influenced by Nintendo’s portfolio. In the run-up to 2025, the success of Super Mario Party Jamboree and other titles was a promising step for 2025, where the industry should see more innovation and competition.