Animal Crossing: New Horizons Becomes Switch's First Game To Sell 5 Million Boxed Copies In Japan

Waht was the latest game to reach that number. Must be many years ago.

@Ladasta What part of "first game to reach that number" is not working for you?

@Ladasta The headline literally answers your question - not that there should have been one in the first place.

Jeez guys be nice, this is not a Playstation forum.

They should bundle this game with the switch for 20 more bones. So many people like it. It makes sense!

I mean, there are other platforms then switch, So I’m also interested in when another boxed game reached that nr in japan

I reckon it could reach 6m by the end of year.

@Emperor-Palpsy @gcunit No the title only says that it is the first SWITCH title to achieve this, but he was asking which game on ANOTHER platform did achieve this as well

edit: My guess would be something like Wii Sports

@Ladasta do you even know how to read??

@Ladasta Wow a lot of people here misunderstanding you buddy. I think it has always been handheld games like the Pokemon titles on DS which have managed it before. And not very many of them.

@Ladasta I was curious about this too. From vgchartz it looks like Pokémon black/white were the last 5 million+ copies in Japan.

The site is hard to navigate on mobile so it could be wrong. 😊

Because I'm nice, I went to vgchartz (I know...) and had a look.

According to them, the only games to ever exceed 5 million sales in Japan before New Horizons were those listed here:

Presumably most (all?) of those were physical sales.

Edit: No, I think every game on that list has been on one eshop or another.

@gcunit you are indeed nice!

What’s the highest sales number on that list? Will AC possibly top that number?

I'm surprised there are still 5 million physical sales of any game in Japan, I thought they would be all digital by now. Well not all, all, if it sold a few hundred thousands copies physical there are always hold-outs, but to sell 5 million physical copies of anything in 2020 is mighty impressive.

Sooooo.... what's the digital number in Japan? Yes I read the article it didn't say.

"Could Animal Crossing one day take the crown as Switch's top-selling game?"

No. Seems like that will always be Mario Kart. Or maybe SSBU since people will keep buying it as the rest of the DLC characters are released over the next year, if not longer. I know ACNH will keep selling, who knows maybe we'll get ACNH: Welcome amiibo Edition some day, or something similar, but MK and SSBU will keep selling too.

Unless the question is changed to "in Japan', then maybe.

Japan loves their Animal Crossing

@CowCatcher thank you

@Friendly Pokémon Red is highest with 10.22 million, but that has been sold digitally too and there's every chance Nintendo has published figures that incl. the digital sales too. This list doesn't account for that.

Has NSMB been sold digitally? If not, then that's the highest physical-only game, with 6.5 million.

Edit: NSMB is available on Wii U eshop, so those sales will be included too I imagine. I think every game in that list is available digitally.

@JokerCK do you? They were asking about the latest GAME, not the latest Switch game. You'd think "many years ago" would have made that obvious.

I'm wonder what the last game to have hit that number would be, anyone know?

I’m amazed Mario Kart isn’t in the running too.

@Ladasta I apologise for all the snarky replies you’re getting. I understood your question fine, but I don’t know the answer, sorry!

@KBuckley27,

I think most countries love it, perfect game to just chill out and play.

I'm so curious about its total worldwide sales. I hope we get that info soon.

This is insane, though well-deserved from what I've seen and heard. I've never considered Animal Crossing to be niche, but it usually hasn't been mentioned in the same breath as Mario, Pokemon, or The Legend of Zelda. Seems like they'll be changing.

Impressive numbers! I added sales for some Nintendo franchises. Until March 2020. Here are the numbers and the source.

Mario: 607,56 million
Pokémon: 315,69
Donkey Kong: 59,92
Animal Crossing: 50,57
Metroid: 17,23
Yoshi: 26,85

https://www.resetera.com/threads/nintendo-software-and-hardware-sales-data-from-1983-to-present.2725/

@Emperor-Palpsy @gcunit I think the poster was trying to ask what was the last game to sell 5 million physical copies. Maybe poor choice of wording, but seems like that's what he/she wanted.

@gcunit well there have been other consoles before the switch you know. So I’m sure there have been other games that have sold this much. So that was my question.

Great news and well deserved!

Still playing it everyday, unlocking more achievements and getting new DIY recipes. Super fun game. 👍

Excellent. Couldn't happen to a more deserving game this year. Speaking of said game, I need to get back into it. I have been taking a break for a while now.

Wow when I played the first (re-released) game in the west on GC I never thought one day it would outsell the behemoths that are smash and Pokemon... incredible!

(Having said that it was the perfect antidote to world events released at the perfect time)

Not surprising. It's a great game that came out at the best possible time for a game like it. Everyone is playing it, kids, adults, hardcore and casual alike have had a blast with it.

is impressive that Animal Crossing New Horizons managed to sold so well in only 3 months, i can see Animal Crossing New Horizons become closer or be the best selling game of the Switch, watch out Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing New Horizons is going to take your Trophy.

I honestly can’t see why AC game topping NH’s sales.

@Dark_Magician
That would be great for gamers to get it for £20; however why would Nintendo (or any company) sell the game for less than they can for it?