Animal Crossing: New Horizons Sold A Whopping 1.88 Million Copies In Three Days In Japan

Maybe... Almost as big as Pokemon Sword / Shield.

I never played animal crossing before i just don't get what's so good about it.. But damn all this hype has me second guessing myself..

I know when I picked up my copy from GameStop, they said that they had more pre-orders for Animal Crossing than they did for Doom.

Money well earned, imo.

Wait what?. I'm in the same bed is bmartin. Although i have even gone as far as too think about buying it and with what is going on cancelling Sport etc, I reckon i am going to give in very soon. I would have spent a lot more than that in the pub during England matches etc.

@Bmartin001 i felt the same until i got... Then i was caught hook line and sinker. Not played my switch in my lunch hour for over a year until today.

@BenAV,

You just can't let it go.

@Kidfunkadelic83,

It's an addiction, they should have a warning against it.

@Kidfunkadelic83 @Bmartin001 Same here.Never played one before as the series had never appealed to me but after falling in love with games like Stardew Valley and My Time In Portia this looked more and more like my kind of game...and after spending quite a few hours on it since yesterday I'm pleased to say it is..love it!

To outshoot Pokemon's launch figures in Japan is certainly nothing short of fantabulous. Although I'm equally impressed by its UK start.

If the game makes similar ripples in the US (and it just might), watch it become the ultimate countermeme to the certain social circles' "video games and violence" buzz. Or I don't know the internet.

This game is incredibly good. I’ll confess I wasn’t convinced I would get it at first, but after that AC Direct, I knew I had to buy it.

Ofc New Horizons will outsell New Leaf. Does anyone doubt that?
Games sell like crazy on the Switch, especially First Party Games like SSBU, BotW, MK8DX, SMO and Pokemon (i know GameFreak is Third Party but the 1/3 of the IP belongs to Nintendo)

@Anti-Matter, so most Pokémon fans are probably AC fans, but not all AC fans are Pokémon fans?

It’s going to sell 20+ million. It’s the game we all need in these difficult times.

Yeah, my kids and I are having a blast with it. Even my non gamer daughter wants to play it. It really does get it hooks into you. I’ll put it down to take a break and pick it up 2 min. later thinking, “I’ll just fish a little bit more.”

My family has been hooked in it since the GameCube days. We call it Animal Crack.

It's a great game (but kinda slow to start for the first few days) but I'm sure all this quarantining helped sales.

@johnvboy that they should. Its a virtual addiction only. If my wife told me to get in the garden and pull up every weed i could see id tell her to do one. Never the less my AC island is completely weed free 😂

@citizen_zane,

The have to call the next one "Animal crack", would be ace.

Love it - I just wish I didn’t have to wait for my son to do things as the first player before they unlock for me as a secondary citizen. Really hope they fix that.

there has never been a more perfectly timed release, albeit a coincidence. It is an excellent game of course, but this extra layer of good timing will make it one of the most notable games to ever come out.

@jon_simmons Doom on the other hand had unfortunate timing, though i'm sure it did big numbers and it's supposed to be great. The last thing I want to do during this crisis is play Doom.

@Bmartin001 it's just extremely relaxing. It's all collecting and talking to neighbors. You'll know in the first hour or two if it's going to work out

Of course it sells, it's been like 4 months since the last proper Nintendo game: Pokemon. (No, Brain Age doesn't count.)

Also, Nintendo delayed this game to a very fortunate period where everyone wants to quarantine on a deserted island.

We've been in lockdown in San Francisco and Animal Crossing has been the answer. I actually bought 2 copies so my son and I can have our own island, and visit each other. It's another $60 to do that but it has been absolutely worth it and I'm sure the value will stretch beyond a year. What a cathartic game in these times.

Half of the people in my Switch friends list are already playing Animal Crossing. That‘s really fascinating.
But ACNH deserves it; it is such a great game...

I'm amazed at how much the fandom for Animal Crossing has grown in such a short time. I mean, it's always had a pretty energetic fanbase. But this has been quite a sight to see ever since New Horizons was announced. I suspect alot of that has to do with how really well done and supported New Leaf was and the word of mouth of fans (and to a lesser extent, Pocket Camp)

And for those who don't get the hype, but haven't ever tried Animal Crossing, I think you sort of answer your conundrum. Its really something (like most things) that you actually have to try to understand. I also that's hard to ask of someone because no one wants to invest in a game they ultimately might not like and that's the other side. You may try it and it still not click with you

This game's sales will be bonkers. Easy 20+ million seller

Hey everyone. Been and avid reader of this site since the summer when I got my Switch and this is my first post. I, like many on here I’ve seen, never gave AC much thought but being on lock down and working from home here in NYC, I may order this since it may be a much needed respite for our current reality. Keep up the good work everyone.

It's one of the greatest games ever made, happy Nintendo is banking hard, they deserve it.

There are about 600 GEO stores in Japan, so this data should be fairly representative of the entire country.

Animal Crossing New Horizons has a good shot at being one of the Top 5 (possibly even Top 3) fastest-selling games of all time in Japan when all said and done.

Honestly the best Switch exclusive since Odyssey. I'm so happy Animal Crossing got the budget and the attention it deserved from Nintendo. Just hoping they can give the same attention to Fire Emblem and Pokemon next. (Three Houses is my favorite Switch game behind BOTW, I just think it would have been even better with higher production value.)

It’s soo good. I keep trying to put it down or play something else but my brain keeps telling me I have one more thing to do on my island. I’m addicted. Send help.

It gives me hope in humanity that a game like this can still be this popular.

@Bmartin001 me either. But I got this one to try and it's so relaxing and fun. I've put in probably 20 hours over 3 days.

What a great time to be "working from home".

Well deserved, yet another feather in Nintendo's cap. 👍

This game just oozes charm and it's incredibly hard to put down.

Getting it sometime within the next few days in the mail. Loved New leaf so looking forward to play New horizons.

Bit the bullet and got it. No Ragrets! This is the perfect storm for AC: Global pandemic causing quarantine, word of mouth from my friends who played new leaf, and THAT direct! All these things combined to make purchasing the game a no brainer!

It'll hit 15 million or more. I have little doubt.

I love this game. There is so much to do and everything is fun. I can't wait for my house to get bigger tomorrow. I need to get the terraforming tools, I'm about to make the perfect island.

Fastest-selling games of all time in Japan (retail sales only):
1) [NDS] Pokemon Black/White: 2.64 million
2) [PS1] Final Fantasy VIII: 2.50 million
3) [NDS] Dragon Quest IX: 2.34 million
4) [PS2] Dragon Quest VIII: 2.24 million
5) [PSP] Monster Hunter Freedom 3: 2.15 million
6) [3DS] Pokemon X/Y: 2.10 million
7) [PS1] Final Fantasy VII: 2.03 million
8) [PS1] Final Fantasy IX: 1.95 million
9) [3DS] Pokemon Sun/Moon: 1.91 million
10) [3DS] Monster Hunter 4: 1.88 million
**Every game on this list outside of Monster Hunter 4 had nonexistent or negligible digital sales.

If Animal Crossing New Horizons sells 1.5+ million retail copies at launch, then it's overall retail + digital launch will comfortably exceed 2.2 million, and will thus be one of the Top 5 biggest launches of all time in Japan.

If Animal Crossing New Horizons sells 2+ million retail copies at launch, then it will become the fastest-selling game of all time in Japan, and likely by a healthy margin.

@Bmartin001 Same here, it seems like a drug that I would, really really like...

17 million. I really want to check this out.!!

Ive got the game but it still has not grabbed me.
Just paid off my moving fees but maybe I am missing something. I feel like it doesn't really entice me to keep playing like other games....

Numbers just came in:
> Animal Crossing New Horizons: 1.88 million
> Switch hardware sales: 393,000

Animal Crossing New Horizons is the fastest-selling Switch game of all time. Weekly Switch hardware sales reached its highest ever recorded, exceeding its launch week back in March 2017 or any holiday week in 2017/2018/2019.

Im not buying this game, the annoying voices caracters make is irritating after half an hour.

@BenAV Hi buddy, i was the same tbh. Ibe dabbled in the past and didnt get the franchise but this one has me hooked. Its not one of those games i can plough hours in to daily as i run out of things to do as trees stop giving wood, fruit etc but i play it in the morning and then again in the evening. Once you start getting a nook ticket you can go to other islands and catch new bugs and get new fruit that you can take back to your island to plant and populate. Also if there are other settlers on those islands you can invite them to move to yours. I now have the museum open, 2nd stage house and now ive got the pole vault i can get across the river. Its a very slow burner but one that rewards playing and growing your town.
P. S Excuse any spelling errors, im typing with gloves on😂

Nice...!! 😀

Btw, for Nintendolife staffs, could you make an article about comparison of Animal Crossing New Horizons player by gender, who have played the game by most ?
And also the comparison graph between ACNL and ACNH.

@Heavyarms55

I dont think so.
Probably around 10,8 million(still impressive)
These sales figures are just an explosion because of the fans where waiting for it.

Most owners dont like these fluffy sweet games.

@BenAV Don't understand what you mean with your comment??? You insinuating Pokemon didn't deserve it's sales??? Which is nonsense in my opinion =:3

@PALversusNTSC bs, New Leaf already sold 11.78 mio copies, u really think new horizons will sell less than that
every title like SMO, BotW, SSBU, Pokemon etc sells much better than other entries in their series on other consoles

TBH i played AC very much this weekend, but it starts to get really boring now, 5 days after release although this game is meant to be played for a long time
i guess its just not for me

@BenAV oh well fair enough. Is just surprising to me to hear anyone hating Pokemon, I'm sorrounded by all types of gamers and many bought a switch just for Pokemon alone been having a blast with all my friends. Again to each their own is a shame you didn't get much enjoyment out of it =:3

@PALversusNTSC You seem to be ignoring all the numbers especially from past titles. Is fine to have your own pallet and taste but is not good to hold everyone's standards to your own. You seem to be underestimating both the gaming community and the Animal Crossing franchise over all, as someone who went in for both Doom and Animal crossing, there was maybe 2 other people that reserved Doom and the rest was for animal crossing and the adversity was of all kinds. I've been reading and hearing similar stories so it seems a lot more players are into that good 'ol fluff than demon slaying than you think, and there really isn't anything wrong with that =:3

Considering all of the people in lockdown, I expect digital sales to be gargantuan worldwide.

Game is lovely. My entire family has been playing it obsessively since launch.

Well deserved for Nintendo, it one of the greatest games ever made.

@TheBestUncle The timing to release a game about relaxing on a virtual island of freedom, all kinds of animals, and a seemingly carefree community, couldn't be better, it's made me think about diving back into the series as well. But I already live in a cabin, in a forest, surrounded by animals that have nothing to fear from me.
The difference: I pay interest on my (small) loan, and have a government breathing down my neck pretending to tax me exponentially extra to "protect the environment", while it is me who's protecting this forest against them as they'll cut it down as soon as I give in to their terrorist tactics and systematic bullying.

...I think it's safe to say that the game is currently a success in Japan then?

Me, 2 weeks ago: Well, I'm sure we'll get it sooner or later. My son's crazy about Animal Crossing, Maybe for his birthday...

Me, 1 week ago: Well I better preorder. My son's out of school and is driving me crazy.

@PALversusNTSC
New Horizons has a good shot at outselling New Leaf before the end of the year.

New Horizon's launch sales have been monstrous across the globe. Even if its legs are terrible, it will still cruise past New Leaf's global lifetime sales.

A lot of new Nintendo fans in this generation.

@PALversusNTSC Naw, Animal Crossing New Leaf sold well over 11 million copies on a system with much less general appeal and made the series far more well known and liked. And the title remained evergreen throughout the 3DS's life span. I expect ACNH to smash that previous number.

@BenAV Super effective comment

@Bmartin001 I was in your boat and bought it based on hype and Corona lockdown. Waste of $60 to be completely honest.