If you could ask Nintendo to give you any information you wanted about Switch and owner trends, we imagine this probably wouldn't be the first statistic you'd think up: Which games do Switch buyers most commonly play on their first day with the console?
Nevertheless, Nintendo has provided this exact nugget of info in its March 2019 Financial Results Briefing, and it actually reveals more information than you might initially think. As Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa points out in the briefing, these titles can give a great indication as to which games are driving hardware sales. Naturally, if you pick up a Switch purely because of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, for example, it's pretty likely that you'd then throw Smash into the cartridge slot at the first opportunity.
Below is a list of titles played by consumers on their first day after purchasing a Switch between January and March 2019.
As you can see, Smash Ultimate does appear to be the clear favourite for that time period, but all the usual suspects are there despite some of them - Zelda and Super Mario Odyssey, for example - being released considerably earlier than the time frame covered.
As an interesting side note, Furukawa also discussed consumer trends relating to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in a little more detail, revealing that the diversity of owners appears to be widening over time.
When Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was first released, it was played by people within a wide age range, and particularly by men in their 20s to early 30s. As time has passed, however, the range of consumers playing this game has widened even further. Our data shows that the range of consumers showing interest in this game is also increasing, which means the title draws such a broad range of people.
Yesterday, it was revealed that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has reached 13.81 million worldwide sales in just four months.
Which game(s) did you play on your first day with a Switch? Were there any games in particular which made you want the console? Let us know in the comments.
[source nintendo.co.jp]
Comments 95
Believe I'm one of the guilty Super Smash Bro's launchers. I got the Smash Bro's Switch console after all.
It's weird to think when the Switch was released, our only real viable option for picking our first game was BotW. This was a scary time where people feared Nintendo couldn't recover from the abysmal life cycle that was the Wii U generation. Glad we were wrong.
Umm what?! Day 1 BotW obviously!
BOTW was the only game I owned on my Switch's first day.
The interesting question is, what was the second game?
My first one was "Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers" - I borrowed it from my sister's boyfriend who was visiting when I got my Switch for my birthday. Then I went straight to the eShop and got "Mighty Gunvolt Burst" and I already owned "Cave Story+", as I'd bought the launch edition with manual and CD before even getting a Switch as I got a really good deal on it.
BotW was the first played for me, then Mario Kart. Odyssey probably would have came before MK8 if it was out at the time. Maybe even BotW.
BotW and FAST RMX for me.
@Mach_Rider Good choice, Mighty Gunvolt Burst is superb!
I bought 3 games with my Switch: MK8, Odissey and Zelda. I'm not really sure if the first one was MK or Odissey, but I think it was MK8
Day 1 was Zelda and Fast RMX.
Day 1 was...... I don't have a switch.
Smash on top? Colour me surprised!
I was in early! BoTW and Super Bomberman R were my first physical games, Snipperclips and Fast RMX were my first digital games.
And to think all I had access to on day one was Shovel Knight. Lucky b******s!
Binding of Isaac!
BOTW and snipperclips
Zelda. Literally at about 01:00 after the midnight launch when I got home on Day One. (Still haven’t finished it as I still cannot find 6 shrines 😔)
Super Mario Odyssey for me
4 Mario games on that list (5 if you are counting Mario being in Smash). No surprises here. I think the first game I played on my Switch was Mario Odyssey aswell
Breath of the Wild was the only game I owned on day one but that was enough to keep me busy for a while. Think I downloaded VOEZ nectar when I was ready for a break from Zelda.
@TJWorks The January presentation did a good job of alleviating any concerns I had. Zelda was the only big name title at launch but it was clear they had a huge launch year planned.
I'm going to get some looks, but the first game I played was 1-2-Switch.
I bought BotW together with my Switch and that was my first game I played on this platform. And heck, it was a great choice!
Day 3 after release when I got the console because of postal delays, Breath of the Wild of course.
Super Mario Odyssey was the single reason I bought the console. I wanted it so badly that I didn't care if I'd ever get interested in any other game, figuring the price of the console and the game would be worth it. And it was. But once I got it, I immediately got BoTW and Puyo Puyo Tetris as well. The impression had playing these games reawakened my 20 year dormant Nintendo interest. I shaved off the neckbeard, ditched my PC, and rejoined the enthusiastic gamer crowd 😁
@TheAwesomeBowser
I just think you are the first to admit it!
(it was mine too)
@InAnotherCastle Welcome back!
Not day one, but day seven, and then three months of Breath of the Wild.
My day-one game was Mario & Rabbids Kingdom Battle X-D
Same here - day one buy which landed on my Daughter's birthday - LoZ Breath of the Wild followed by Snipperclips ^_^
For me it was Breath of the Wild. I literally have never been more excited for any piece of media in my life than I was for that game and it managed to exceed my stratospheric expectations. Totally worth taking a week off work to enjoy it.
I didn’t pick up a game day one
My first game on my launch model was (regrettably) Super Bomberman R. I didn’t enjoy that, but my second game was Zelda BotW, which is a completely different story. (My 3rd was Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove!)
My launch day 1st game was ACA The King of Fighters '98 bought off my Japanese account, funny colors and all. Only because the NA versions didn't arrive until a week later.
Day 1 was Shovel Knight, Metal Slug and World of Goo.... had to wait three days for Mr Postman to deliver Zelda!
Day one was BOTW for me and still play it now because smash doesn’t interest me enough to keep playing more than 10 minutes.
Splatoon not that big after all?
I played Portal Knights eshop version immediately once i have bought Nintendo Switch. 🤓
Day 1 for Portal Knights (Switch) eshop version before i get the physical release.
I am pretty sure that my first game was either NES on Switch or Paladins because I didn't have anything else to play on the system at first. It could have been the Mech demo also, can't remember which downloaded first.
I can't imagine playing anything other than BotW as my first game on the system.
@popey1980 online interactive map with show you.
Day 1 was xenoblade chronicles 2
@dugan thank you!
I would like to know which game was highest that wasn't a Nintendo game
What a lousy survey! Of course you're not going to play Smash Bros when you first get a Switch. Only BotW and of course the wonderful Super Mario Odyssey.
Smash Bros... pffff...
Splatoon 2 was the first and only game we bought for our first Switch.
I think it was a couple months until we bought a second game. That game was Mario Kart 8.
No idea what my second game was. Kamiko possibly. If only we had a proper activity log I could just look it up...
But those first 5 minutes... stepping out of that cave... looking over the plateau...
No words...
sobs pathetically
I bought my Switch at our local Shopko and their game selection was meager at best so I grabbed MK8 since I already had played the crap out of BOTW on my Wii U.
I got my Switch earlier this week. First game played was Odyssey to get a feel for the machine then Breath of the Wild. Also got Stardew Valley, but I'm too busy dying in Zelda to play it yet.
No Smash, never will be.
@TheAwesomeBowser looking at you
BotW was the only game to ever justify pre-order of a console, telling my boss I'd go home the very second I receive my parcel at work and that I would be very tired the next Monday because of a lack of sleep. Also I had extremely high expectations for the game and it managed to blow my mind (I even forgot to sleep and eat several times).
I purchased mine on release day, so it was all BOTW for me. Honestly though, it would've been BOTW even if I bought the Switch today.
This was Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Fast RMX for me. Both excellent games that I can still enjoy to this day, even if only once in a while.
Also, no surprise that Smash is on top there, with the game being the newest on the list and it only having released like a month before this list becomes applicable. I guess most of all I'm surprised by NSMBU, but also kinda not? I mean, it's Mario, but it's also kinda stale for Mario standards. I guess that's why it's 'only' 5%.
Breath of the Wild was my Day 1 purchase, but that's mainly because it was near the Switch's launch. Still, it'd still be my Day 1; such a sublime game to play.
I really like Smash Ultimate but that's one of those games where you "get it" or you don't. It just isn't as much my bag as ANIMAL CROSSING FOR SWITCH NINTENDO!!!! NEED MOAR INFO AND GAMEPLAY VIDEOS!!! would be.
I bought it for the BotW. Then I got Mario Kart before the month was over. Later that year I picked up Splatoon 2, Super Mario Odyssey, and Skyrim.
@chardir 1 2 Switch
@boatie probably Fortnite or Rocket League.
Because my switch was the Pokemon bundle lets go was my first. Then MK and Odyssey. Still all amazing games
Not shocking sense joker and others are coming out..
There is so much more info that they could drop with this particular topic alone. What are the second, third, and fourth games? What other ages ranges/genders are the [insert number here] runner-ups?
I have a beautiful Pikachu Edition Switch. No prizes for guessing the first game on it...
@Rutty_YT Really? What did you get? Nothing?
@Patrick-Sukiyaki Then when did you get a Switch?
@Custom1991 I played Fortnite then the next day got a game(Sushi Striker, Splatoon 2, Pokémon)
It was Sonic Mania for me, but then closely followed by Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu!
@gcunit Aw, ya big softy, you...
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
For me it was Zelda for like two months. I couldn't put it down.
Fast RMX was my first game, followed by snake pass.
I bought my switch with Mario odyssey and Mario kart 8, I think the first title I played was mk8, then the third game 1 month later was zelda, the fourth splatoon, now I have 16 physical games, and 10 more digital, I can't stop buying cheap games, but I can't play them all...
For me, it was BOTW, and I don't regret it. But I completely understand Smash Ultimate, Super Mario Odyssey, or MK8 as well. I have all of them now and they're amazing games.
Oof, my first game was Minecraft.
1st was BotW, no where near my fav zelda game but it was decent. 2Nd was disgaea 5 complete, really awesome game. And the rest were pretty much all inti creates games at the time.
I got the grey joy-con switch with my first game as botw
@Rutty_YT I see. I wanted a Switch myself.
My first Switch game was:
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
3. Super Mario Odyssey
4. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
I'm pretty sure I had no interest in anything other than BOTW for a month or more
I was one of the Let's Go Eevee players this past March.
@Chayshirin LOL. 😂
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was the reason I got a Switch, but I bought the Switch day one, so BoTW was my first game I played.
@TheAwesomeBowser I did not give you a look but I did have a wave of extreme sadness rush over me.
Men in their 20s and 30s you say? 64/Melee crew is back.
@PortablexombieV2 You do know Mario Odyssey was the reason I got a Switch, right?
Nope I did not. I just see all of these awesome games and that was your first? I would love to get the game... If it was cheaper. I still need to get Mario odyssey.
I can’t remember what my first game was; either Zelda or Mario. Can’t fully recall. Maybe Shovel Knight? Axiom Verge?
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle for me
Mario Kart. I bought my Switch with that and Lego City Undercover. There weren’t many games at that time. I actually bought Othello on the eshop. That’s how sad it was.
The three games I bought along with the console were Arms (which had just come out), Super Bomberman, and Puyo Puyo Tetris. I'm assuming Arms was the first one I tried out just based on it was the only one of the three that was an original game.
Mine was BOTW, why is that not on this list. And whats so great about mario party, i got it and like only played it twice.
@Bubble_Bobble Here's why I think Mario Party would be the first game for a lot of people. Parents buy a Switch for the family and Mario Party is one of the games they buy day one because it's something the whole family can play. Even if other games like Zelda or Let's Go are also in the mix, when the system is first fired up, they'll probably go with the party game so they can all start playing immediately rather than everyone watches one person play. So I totally understand why it's on the list. But you're right, beyond it's inviting multiplayer, there's nothing great about the new Super Mario Party (unpopular opinion, I think Mario Party 10 was better!).
I popped in Bomberman first to be contrarian to everyone that was starting with BOTW.
@mgnoodle trying to resist online guides, at least with this game ... proving to be a pain 😂
My first games was Mario Kart, and Legend of Zelda. I played the Mario Kart first then I tried breath of the wild.
@Custom1991 I still don't have one.......
@Patrick-Sukiyaki Neither do I.
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