Super Smash Bros Ultimate IMG 1

The main reason the Nintendo Switch was able to outsell rival platforms within the US in December last year is linked to the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which placed in the top spot on the charts.

According to The NPD Group, Nintendo had six other titles in the top twenty best-selling games list to help increase Switch sales. This included Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Party, Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The company generated more revenue than any other publisher during this period for the first time since 2009 (excluding in-game transactions). According to NPD analyst Mat Piscatella, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also finished 2018 as the second-best racing game of all-time, right behind Mario Kart Wii in terms of dollar sales.

Take a look at the charts below:

  1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
  2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4**
  3. Red Dead Redemption II
  4. Battlefield V**
  5. NBA 2K19
  6. Mario Kart 8*
  7. Madden NFL 19**
  8. Super Mario Party*
  9. Pokemon: Lets Go Pikachu*
  10. Marvel’s Spider-Man
  11. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
  12. Pokemon: Lets Go Eevee*
  13. Super Mario Odyssey*
  14. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
  15. Just Cause 4
  16. FIFA 19
  17. Grand Theft Auto V
  18. Minecraft
  19. Spyro Reignited Trilogy**
  20. Fallout 76*

*Does not include digital sales, **Does not include PC digital sales
Note: These charts are sorted by dollar sales — not number of units sold.


Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was not only the top-selling game of December but also the fifth best-selling game of 2018 and this does not even include digital sales (as noted above). Mat Piscatella also shared a few extra facts about the success of the new Smash Bros. entry:

"Packaged software launch month dollar sales of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate exceeded those of the previous best in franchise history, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, by over 70 percent.

"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sets a new launch month dollar sales record for a platform exclusive in Video Game history, exceeding the launch month dollar sales of 2010's Halo: Reach."

It's easy to see why the Switch has sold so well in the US after the successful launch of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Once again, are you at all surprised by this sales data? Tell us below.

[source venturebeat.com, via twitter.com]