As the Nintendo Switch continues its meteoric rise, the console's financial success has brought certain franchises to new heights. Animal Crossing: New Horizons has surpassed a staggering 26 million copies sold as of September, which is an unfathomable achievement. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has shifted more than 20 million copies, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey are about to clear that milestone also. Splatoon 2 has more than doubled the sales of the Wii U original, cementing it as Nintendo's next big series.
However, the best selling game on the platform continues to be Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, sitting at effectively 29 million copies sold.
It may seem confounding that the best selling game on the Switch is a four year-old port of a seven year-old Wii U game, but it's not especially surprising. For many lapsed Nintendo fans, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe isn't a port -- it's a definitive and fresh cart racer. Considering how many people have returned to Nintendo's corner with the Switch, this is the mainstream narrative around the game. The console has sold upwards of 50 million units more than the Wii U, so for the lion's share of players, this is a brand new experience.
At the same time, it's not just any old experience: It's Mario Kart. This is a series that has defined Nintendo's consoles for generations. Both Mario Kart 7 and the original Mario Kart 8 were the best selling games on their respective systems. Mario Kart DS sold 23 million copies. Mario Kart Wii sold a staggering 37 million copies. There is a fever for Mario Kart that has not faded no matter how many entries are released.
Beyond that, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is simply one of the best games Nintendo has ever released. Its gameplay is polished to the point of near perfection. No cart racer has this level of detail or mechanics this engaging.
Plus, the Deluxe release added affordances like Smart Steering, making this game enjoyable both for players who can appreciate the finer points of the experience and those just looking for zip around a track. Then, there's the depth and breadth of content. Between the base game's core tracks and DLC, as well as Deluxe's revitalized Battle Mode, the value proposition here is stunning.
Few games are as endlessly replayable as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It appeals to players of all demographics, skill levels and interests. For as much as people like to speculate about which franchise is truly Nintendo's killer app, few series outside of perhaps Pokémon are as ubiquitous and successful as Mario Kart. It's a sales juggernaut and a gameplay masterclass. While having a port top sales charts seems strange, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe represents the absolute pinnacle of Nintendo quality.
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