Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just became the best-selling Nintendo game of all time, barring one major caveat. Either way, it is the Nintendo Switch’s best-selling title, which makes a lot of sense. That franchise is a tried and true moneymaker, as everyone has shown that they love driving around in little cars as their favorite Nintendo characters. It has been that way since the first iteration in 1992.
Mario Kart 8 came out in 2014 for the Wii U, and then Nintendo revamped it and made it even better when the Nintendo Switch came out. That proved to be a stroke of genius, as no other game has been bought and played more. In the seven years of that console’s life, there have been quite a few top-notch games, and they all pale in comparison.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Lands On Top of Sales List With An Asterisk
https://://gty.im/631613926
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is technically the best-selling unit of all-time for the gaming company. There’s only one game above it, and it’s really not quite fair to include it. While Wii Sports was an absolutely incredible game, much of the sales were driven by it being packaged with the Wii console itself. Those who purchased a console were often surprised that it came with the game. The popularity took off from there, but a lot of the sales wouldn’t have happened otherwise. So it does sit at the top, but that’s an inflated number, especially when compared to others.
According to a report from GameSpot, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold 61.97 million units. The only game with more is Wii Sports and its asterisked 82.90 million units. That means that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has more units sold than some of the most prominent titles in gaming history, such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pokémon Red, Tetris, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and more.
Why Mario Kart 8D Has Done the Rounds
https://://gty.im/631611026
This game, in particular, has been so popular for a couple of reasons. For one, it’s a simple party game that virtually everyone who owns a Switch has. There is hardly a Switch library without it, which is almost essential to owning the console. It’s also timeless, so while it first got on the Switch in 2017, it is still extremely playable and relevant in 2024. It can be played now just as well as it could have been six years ago.
The second main reason it has sold so much is because Nintendo is dedicated to it. They have added tons of characters, including Link and Isabelle, from other games. Nintendo also has utilized nostalgia. Old Mario Kart games are super popular, and Nintendo has used their Switch Online Expansion to rope in tons of classic tracks. Players can relive the glory days in the current game, and that’s rare.
While Nintendo is not likely to slow down and stop making consoles any time soon, it does remain to be seen where they go from here in terms of Mario Kart. The same issue plagues Super Smash Bros. The company added everything to the latest titles, so if they’re not the last ones, what can they possibly do for the next ones? That’s anyone’s guess, but until it’s revealed, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will continue climbing the charts.
For More Great Content
Check out our Gaming site for all the video game coverage you need!
Total Apex is an all-encompassing content producer. We provide detailed articles every day on entertainment, gaming, sports, and so much more! Check out all our great sports content at Total Apex Sports. Check us out on X @TotalApexEandG and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
