In a stunning plot twist worthy of a late-night soap opera, Kirby Air Riders has swooshed its way to the top of the Japanese physical sales charts, proving once again that the Nintendo Switch is the reigning monarch of the gaming universe, with a special cameo from its flashy sibling, the Switch 2.
A Numbers Game
According to the latest gossip from the Famitsu grapevine, Kirby’s newest adventure, reminiscent of its GameCube predecessor from the brilliant mind of Masahiro Sakurai, managed to sell a jaw-dropping 194,594 copies in just three days—from its grand debut on November 20 to the end of the chaotic weekly chart period on November 23. Talk about a blockbuster! That’s almost enough copies to form a small army of pink puffballs.
To put this into perspective for those who may not have a calculator handy: Kirby Air Riders sold almost three times more than the second-place contender, Mario Kart World. Even though that beloved racing game has now racked up a total of over 2.2 million physical copies (yes, including the dubious hardware bundles), it appears Mr. Mario may need to step on the gas a little harder to keep up.
Pokémon’s Steady March
Meanwhile, as if things weren’t exciting enough, Pokémon Legends Z:A continues its triumphant march through the charts, trailing behind with 50,540 copies sold across both Switch and Switch 2—though the original version is still hogging the spotlight like a diva at a karaoke bar—57% to 43%, in favor of the Switch side. Can’t blame it; it’s got that seasoned experience!
Nintendo’s Domination
The Nintendo grip on the charts is as tight as Grandma’s hug at family gatherings; only two games in the entire Top 20 are PS5 titles. The rest? A delightful collection of Switch and Switch 2 games, solidifying Nintendo’s status as the lead actor in this exhilarating production. Grab your popcorn, folks!
Understand the Numbers… Sort Of
Before throwing confetti and having a dance party, it’s essential to remember that Famitsu’s charts include physical game sales, download cards sold in stores, and any games bundled with hardware. However, if it’s bought digitally, you’re out of luck—no numbers for you! The true epic saga of total sales will remain shrouded in mystery until Nintendo’s financial report drops. It’s a cliffhanger, but one that promises to be juicy!
Drumroll, Please: This Week’s Top Performers
So, what games have flashed their bling and strutted their way into the spotlight this week? Here’s a handy table of the movers and shakers from November 17-23:
(Cumulative total to date in brackets)
- Kirby Air Riders (Switch 2) – 195,594 (NEW)
- Mario Kart World (Switch 2) – 67,068 (2,202,125)
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch) – 28,480 (1,271,576)
- Momotaro Dentetsu 2: Your Town is Surely There Too – East & West Japan Edition (Switch) – 28,704 (118,780)
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2) – 22,060 (798,015)
- Momotaro Dentetsu 2: Your Town is Surely There Too – East & West Japan Edition (Switch 2) – 20,751 (77,558)
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Switch 2) – 9,129 (100,121)
- Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (Switch) – 8,302 (286,589)
- Minecraft (Switch) – 4,909 (4,050,014)
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch) – 4,908 (8,258,611)
- Donkey Kong Bananza (Switch 2) – 4,836 (378,576)
- Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (Switch 2) – 4,754 (108,179)
- R-Type Delta: HD Boosted (Switch) – 3,325 (NEW)
- Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero (Switch) – 3,324 (15,525)
- Railway Nippon! RealPro Long-Distance Driving! Limited Express Hinotori: Kintetsu Edition (Switch) – 3,057 (NEW)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (PS5) – 2,899 (15,210)
- Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch) – 2,881 (100,714)
- Sumikko Gurashi: Let’s Create! A Wonderful Sumikko Island (Switch) – 2,532 (NEW)
- Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (PS5) – 2,492 (113,664)
- Model Debut4 #nicola (Switch) – 2,351 (NEW)
