Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is best-selling Nintendo Switch game ever

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best-selling Nintendo Switch game of all time, and it’s only widening the gap between it and other Switch games.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe came out in the spring of 2017 and has been consistently selling copies ever since. The best-selling Nintendo Switch game currently has over 45 million copies sold. A Nintendo earnings statement revealed that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold around 10 million more copies this past year alone.

The incredible popularity of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is most likely the reason another Mario Kart game is apparently not yet in the works for the Nintendo Switch. Instead, Nintendo is in the midst of releasing 48 newly remastered tracks for the record-breaking kart racing game.

These new tracks are similar to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in that they are not completely new content but are instead remakes and upgrades of older tracks from past Mario Kart games. Despite a few complaints, the tracks have generally been welcomed back with open arms from Mario Kart fans.

What are the most popular Nintendo Switch games?

So many Nintendo Switch exclusives have been launched over the past few years, it’s definitely an accomplishment for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to remain the top seller for so long. Here are the most popular Nintendo Switch games according to sales:

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 45.33 million
2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 38.64 million
3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 28.17 million
4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 26.55 million
5. Pokemon Sword/Pokemon Shield – 24.27 million
6. Super Mario Odyssey – 23.5 million
7. Super Mario Party – 17.78 million
8. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Pokemon Shining Pearl – 14.65 million
9. Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu/Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee – 14.53 million
10. Ring Fit Adventure – 14.09 million

All of the games on this list are Nintendo Switch exclusives. Unlike the PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, which often have games with crossplay functionality and share most games with simultaneous release dates, the Nintendo Switch often releases games meant specifically for the unique console.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a huge hit in 2020, allowing friends to connect and even hang out virtually. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has an ever-growing competitive scene that makes it a hit both at parties and tournaments. But Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just can’t be beat, and the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course DLC announcement will most likely cement its first-place spot for some time to come.