Switch Version Of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Sold More Than All The Other Versions Combined

still need to pick up wonderboy!

I hope "Double Dragon IV" gets similar results because despite of what you might have been told, it's the perfect Switch game.

That's very impressive whatever way you look at it. Numbers would be nice but it's still great.

I was thinking of getting this game since it looked fun. Now, I am more inclined to do so

New Switch owners with a hunger for games and a lack of choice may be a factor here. Not that you can fault a new system much for that. Anyway, I like having lots of indie games to choose from. Still looking forward to several of them: Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley, Owlboy, Pocket Rumble. Bring 'em!

There are games we will buy, and games we won't. The Nindies seem to fit really well on Switch

It does actually make sense when you think about it. A lot of the people who will remember that game back in the day on the Sega Master System are now playing Nintendo systems.

Capcom are gonna end up regretting not releasing mega man or Disney collection on switch.

This was a day one purchase for me. The Switch really is perfect for indy titles.

Yep, and I bet Mega Man collection and Disney Afternoon would do the same......oh wait.....

Hey I would have been part of those sales had it been physically released. Can we get some kind of promise for this to happen now?

Not related to them but indie sure - what happened to Pocket Rumble?

Still haven't picked this up, wish it had a physical release in an old Master System Box

My favorite Sega Master System game, on my favorite Nintendo System.

They chose to support the console early with quality and were rewarded by having one of the most attractive early games for a console who's early adopters were hungry for more content after BotW. My money is tight so I ended up skipping it to focus on saving for some other games with an intention to pick it up when I have spare cash. I'm glad they are seeing success.

@Shiryu wow, really? everything I'd heard about it has been uniformly awful, whereas the Dragon's Trap is pretty much the opposite. Not disagreeing - I haven't even played DDIV - but surprised to read that.

Edit: just read a comment on metacritic saying that it's a much better game than the one that appeared on Steam.

Well, it was the only decent game released at that moment. That's why many people (myself included) bought it. I wonder how games like this will fare later, when the shop is saturated by indies titles. I would think that even now the situation is quite different.

I thought from the headline this was going to say it sold more than the Master System version

@Paperboy
Moreso I think it's the fact the audience on Switch is far more interested in these types of games.

That and the fact by and large, people who own a Switch really love it. And people who really love a given platform will, pound for pound, buy alot more games for it versus a console they aren't that excited over (eh ehm... Wii U).

@admwllms I bought the STEAM version on release day. I had my fun worth of 5€ it costed. It took them 9 months but now the game (despite slightly more expensive...damn Switch tax) is on the console it was always meant to be: a console you can remove a joycon and throw it at your friend so you can relive the great times you had on the NES.

Something like this happened on Wii U and it has some logic if you think of it. The other platforms have many more third-party/indie games than Wii U or Switch so the games available have a better chance of being successful.

still waiting for physical

@Shiryu fair enough! Gotta admit, the idea of doing just that does appeal

@Hrimfaksi I completely agree. If the Switch's library was as large as the competition, I would be impressed. It isn't, so kind of makes sense.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Far too positive. Colour me disappointed.

Hoping for similar success on other multiplatform games such as FIFA and NBA (despite the recent outrage). This would give more reasons for indie and 3rd party developers to invest in the Switch. The portability aspect really is a plus.

@Shellcore That's certainly a big factor, but I wouldn't say it's enough to justify this kind of dominance - especially given how the instal base on other platforms is also exponentially bigger at the moment. I mean, the Switch isn't simply the platform where it sold best; it outsold PS4, Xbox and Steam combined. That's pretty impressive, no matter how you look at it.

I loved the original on Master System, loved the remake, and love my Switch, so this is certainly awesome news. Hopefully we get more and more indies of similar quality, as that's incresingly where I've been finding my favorite gaming experiences in this day and age.

Makes sense as the library was really small then

@BlueOcean I think that the absence of Virtual Console is - in part - to help games like this find an audience. Virtual Console would have smoothered many of the indie games we've seen so far.

At the same time I think the fact that Switch can be used as a handheld or on the TV straight out of the box will really help it find an audience for this type of game. Vita owners bought an incredible number of games per Vita - if the Switch does anything like that but with the advantage of what will eventually become a much deeper install base then it could become the first port of call for indie games.

Potentially - given there's much less piracy - it could even be a more lucrative market for indies than Steam.

Awesome, bring more on!

Fantastic game, really one of my favorite Switch eshop games. The artwork looks gorgeous in portable mode. I didn't even know it was out on Xbox or PS4.

Obviously, the low amount of games for the Switch played a role here, but the fact that it's a quality title does as well. It's a tremendous game and I'm happy to see it having success on the Switch

Say what you like about indies, but I'm loving the volume and variety of games on Switch, even if they don't have huge development budgets and bloated teams making them.

@StuTwo Yes, it all adds. Nice game, in between, I talked about it positively the other day on NL.

.....and a discount as a sweetener for those who remain undecided is ......

@Ps4all Yes, it's a multiplatform game, it probably hasn't been noticed much because of the rubbish abounding in the indie scene but it's a really nice game. I played the original and will get this remake soon when I beat other games because it looks gorgeous.

I'm excited for War Groove so I can scratch that Advance Wars itch.

Fantastic game, which thoroughly deserves its success on Switch. I actually prefer WB:TDT to the admittedly still excellent Shovel Knight, although I can't deny it is far shorter. Undoubtedly reaped the benefit of releasing very early into the Switch library, but who cares?

@electrolite77 Having a small number of games on the eshop so that games like this could prosper was clearly a deliberate move from Nintendo (however derided it might have been from some quarters).

Capcom should read this for their NES Remakes that are shunning the Switch

There were other versions?

Still hoping we get a physical release at some point.

Impressive numbers. I love that third parties seem to be doing really well on Switch!

As others have pointed out, those retro collections Capcom released recently would have done well on Switch as well.

Well, the reason I didn't buy it on any of the other larger platforms is because I know it'll go on sale this fall, and I can pick it up for half off. I can't speak for others that didn't buy it, but I can imagine I'm not the only one that held out for that reason. Still, good for them, glad they are doing well on Switch.

"Third parties don't sell on Nintendo consoles."

They do if you don't gimp them! Take note of this developers.

That argument is a little funny to me, as I'm a game developer myself and I can say that my recent game SwapQuest sold more on the Vita than on the PS4, Xbox One and Steam combined.
Sadly that doesn't mean that the Vita is the greatest piece of hardware nor that the game sold like crazy. So if his statement is anything to applaud remains a mystery.

@MegaTen yeah was thinking the same thing. I'd rebuy the game at a reasonable price to have a physical version - here's hoping this nudges them into it.

Still waiting for physical release.

It's a great game so far! Picking it up this week.

Amazing port and remaster. I can't wait for Monster Boy and The Cursed Kingdom now!

@Jokerwolf Yeah, I'm keeping an eye on it too.

Bring on a physical release and you will get even more of my money.

You should hire Sligeach, he's a keeper

Good game for the Switch. Well priced, fun and plays great on The go. I never played it docked Or rarely when I was home (Better things to play on PS4/PC when at home) But gave me a reason to keep the Switch in my work bag.

I think Hollow Knight will do well also on the Switch

There certainly is a lot of money on the Switch table. Surprisingly many businesses are willing to just leave it there.

If they make a physical version, I'll buy it again! Loved loved loved this game

But the internet has told me that third parties don't sell on Nintendo. Lol!

If you have a good game and threat us with the same respect you threat other gamer fanbases your game will sell on Nintendo.

@Shiryu I'll download it next week.

Nintendo was right to not immediately flood their digital market with their own old games.

As to be expected really. I picked this up on PC but due to lack of free time I'm going to double dip later.

@JJ286 Wait for the NL review.

It came out when there was nothing to play on the switch

@Shiryu Last night it was like Number 6 on the top sellers in the eShop. Are you trolling though, or do you really like it? I wanted to buy it but have been dissuaded.

@Dang69 I never troll anyone, even more so in a place I work in. Sad place this Internet of nowadays where people are so used to sarcasm and "characters" acting out all over the place that you can't even discern real talk from sarcasm.

I love "Double Dragon IV". It is exactly what it was meant to be: a 30th anniversary tribute to the "Double Dragon" series, no more, no less.

@Shiryu "Sad place this Internet of nowadays where people are so used to sarcasm and "characters" acting out all over the place that you can't even discern real talk from sarcasm".

So true.

Not surprised. If you're going to go Retro, do it with Nintendo. But many indie games have a more Nintendo vibe to them, so it makes sense they sell we'll on the Switch.

@Shiryu

Exactly. Great nostalgic fun!!

forma.8 developer has tweeted that the switch version is the most successful.

Also for people saying it's all because this switch has no games blah blah blah.

Love to know your reasons why indie games on Wii U didn't do so well. I mean the Wii U has had droughts all through its existence. Why were Wii U gamers not buying these games?

@Spoony_Tech

gotta forward this article to Capcom....

@MariOnline forma 8's developer also says the collected more revenue from the switch than any other version and they released recently

Not surprising, xbox is pew pew and playstation is all exclusive games. I bought this on my xbox tho.

@EternalDragonX man some people will go to all lengths to make excuses for Sony and Xbox falling behind Nintendo when it comes to indie games sales.

Pretty pathetic

I would imagine the increasing size of the Switch userbase and the slim library of games they have to choose from right now played more of a part than anything else.

That's nothing against the console or the game, especially in regards to the Switch where it's still relatively new on the market so of course its library isn't huge BUT it's more likely that a Switch user is going to buy a particular game since there's currently a lot less competition on that platform compared to (just example) a PC user, where they have the choice of literally thousands of other games.

@JJ286 They typically don't sell on Nintendo systems, and there's more than enough evidence to back it up. It would be more accurate to come back in a year or so when there's a larger library to choose from and see how well third parties are doing then.

@kobashi100 .....i didnt make an excuse for either of them. Woulda bought this on switch had it come out the same time.

@electrolite77 @Tao That hasn't been the case for a long time now: except a developer here and there like that alien game for example.

Realistically, the Switch though building momentum, doesn't have the same size library that the other 2 have. If it did this would be much more impressive. Unless you're a big retro classic fan, it's really hard to pick off Wonder Boy amongst 8-10-12 weekly games releases on PS4 & Xone! When it arrived on Switch it arrived practically alone!

I bought this day 1 and completed it around 3 times. its a great game and Hopefully the new one will come out soon.

It's an awesome game. If you enjoy action platforming even a little bit, it's fantastic. It's kind of a metroidvania game, but the backtracking and puzzle solving isn't as intense.

@joey302
It was definitely alone amongst the dozens of other titles on the machine.

@electrolite77 did I say it wasn't impressive?? Pretty sure I mentioned that. Wasn't a negative comment at all.

@rallydefault in totality yes, but not up against a dozen other games released the same day/week. Still was impressive- I bought one. But my point was it was released on April 18th...by itself with no other games alongside it to distract you. Nothing negative here just a fact.

Good news is always good

Sooooo the other versions sold worse?

Oceanhorn developer now confirmed switch version sold more then everything else combined.

This game is one of those rare 10/10 evergreen games for the 8-bit Sega Master System. For me personally it's the best game I have experienced on the console. I downloaded it a few years ago on Wii's Virtual Console for 5 bucks and completed it 100%
(along with the 7 other Wonder Boy games available on the service).

The whole series is still great to play today, but I would have prefered a Wonder Boy II remake because that one would actually benefit from a remake in the same sense that Metroid II, Zelda II, and Castlevania II would benefit from being remade.

Anyway, I hope they consider a retail release on Switch after this success. Looking forward to the other Wonder Boy games as well.

Great to hear that Oceanhorn has the same success with their Switch version. Pretty good games. But I want them physical. And while I'm at it, Slime-San, Shovel Knight, and Shantae too!

@Shiryu Yeah but we can always politely ask the person if they're being sarcastic or not! I'll buy it tonight because of your recommendation.

@Dang69 most certainly, but it's a shame to wonder how many people believed i was being sarcastic and will not touch the game because they didn't ask...

@Shiryu I'll wait then.

oceanhorn dev is saying the same as well.

@BlueOcean The team that worked on the remaster for dragons trap also helped with Monster Boy so you know it will be good.

@Jokerwolf Yep, I want to get both!