In Japan, the Nintendo Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World has outperformed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, selling more physical copies in its first three days than the Switch 1 launch title did during its initial three-day period.
According to Famitsu, Mario Kart World sold an impressive 782,566 copies in Japan from June 2 to June 8, securing its place as the week's top-selling game. Note that Famitsu’s data only includes physical, preinstalled-on-console, and Game-Key Card sales from retail stores, excluding digital downloads from My Nintendo Store, suggesting the actual sales figure is likely higher.
In comparison, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the original Switch sold approximately 193,060 copies in Japan during its first three days in 2017, per Famitsu data. This indicates Mario Kart World’s retail sales in Japan are roughly four times higher than Breath of the Wild’s initial figures on Switch 1.
This strong performance aligns with the Nintendo Switch 2 being Nintendo’s fastest-selling console to date, moving over 3.5 million units globally in its first four days. The Switch 2 is outpacing the original Switch by a 2-to-1 ratio. By contrast, the supply-limited Switch 1 sold 2.74 million units worldwide in its first month.
In the first three days after the Switch 2 launch, physical game sales in Japan were robust. Switch 2 titles dominated half of Famitsu’s top 10, with Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (No. 6, 10,877 copies), Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (No. 7, 7,992 copies), Zelda: Breath of the Wild (No. 8, 7,529 copies), and Yakuza 0 (No. 9, 7,486 copies) charting strongly. Elden Ring: Nightreign (PS5) was the sole non-Switch title at No. 5.
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While Mario Kart World has raced past Breath of the Wild’s initial sales in Japan, it remains uncertain whether it will match the critically acclaimed Zelda title’s lifetime sales. This is especially true with the recent Switch 2 HD rerelease of Breath of the Wild, which may encourage fans to repurchase the game.
Explore our Mario Kart World guide to discover how to unlock all hidden characters and understand Kamek Unlocks for NPC Drivers. We also offer a guide to locating all Mario Kart World food items in the open world, helping you secure every outfit and costume permanently.
