Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Outpaces BOTW Sales in Japan

In Japan, Mario Kart World for Nintendo Switch 2 has significantly outperformed its predecessor's launch title, selling more physical copies within its first three days than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did during its Switch 1 debut.

Famitsu reports that Mario Kart World has already sold an impressive 782,566 physical copies in Japan, securing its position as the week's top-selling game from June 2 to June 8. It's important to note that these figures exclude digital downloads from the My Nintendo Store, meaning actual sales are likely substantially higher.

By comparison, Breath of the Wild sold approximately 193,060 physical copies during its first three days following the original Switch's 2017 launch. This puts Mario Kart World's retail performance at roughly four times that of Nintendo's previous flagship launch title.

The strong sales come as no surprise, given that Switch 2 has become Nintendo's fastest-selling console, moving over 3.5 million units globally in its first four days. The new system is currently outselling the original Switch by a 2:1 margin, far surpassing its predecessor's 2.74 million units sold during its supply-constrained first month.

Switch 2 titles dominated Japanese retail charts during launch week, claiming five of Famitsu's top ten spots. Notable entries include Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (No. 6, 10,877 copies), both Zelda titles—Tears of the Kingdom (No. 7) and Breath of the Wild (No. 8)—and Yakuza 0 (No. 9), with Elden Ring: Nightreign (PS5) being the sole non-Nintendo title at No. 5.

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While Mario Kart World's launch numbers surpass Breath of the Wild's initial performance, it remains uncertain whether it can match Zelda's lifetime sales—especially with the recent Switch 2 HD re-release potentially driving renewed interest.

For players diving into Mario Kart World, our comprehensive guides cover character unlocks including Kamek's special mechanics, plus locations for all collectible food items that grant permanent cosmetic upgrades.