At the end of the last year, the NPD Group released new information about the consumption habits of consumers in the USA for video games. Aside from calling Switch the best-selling system of the year in this particular market, we also have a round-up of the “Top 10 Best Sellers” (based on dollar sales) for Nintendo platforms in 2022.
Unsurprisingly, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet took the top spot. It was followed by Pokémon Legends: Arceus in second place and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in third place. Kirby’s new 3D adventure was fourth and Nintendo Switch Sports fifth. For another year, Smash Bros. and Animal Crossing returned, and further down the list was third-party representative Lego Star Wars. Splatoon 3 also made it to tenth place. Here’s the full synopsis (via NPD’s industry analyst Mat Piscatella):
The NPD Group also shared Switch game sales data for the month of December in the US. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet was once again at the top. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope was third, Sonic Frontiers was fifth, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land was also loved by Switch owners. Here is the diagram:
For 2022 overall, the latest generation of Pokémon was again the best-selling Switch game, coming in sixth. It’s just outside the top 5, where heavyweights like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Elden Ring occupy the top two spots, while multiplatform hit Lego Star Wars sits in fifth place. Madden NFL 23 and God of War Ragnarok complete the top five.
January 2022’s Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the second best-selling Switch exclusive, while the third is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe *checks the notes* (we know, we know this is always going to sell well – especially with the Booster Course Pass from 2022). Kirby and the Forgotten Land has also done well, ranking 14th ahead of Nintendo Switch Sports and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
It’s not too surprising that S&V is dominating the Nintendo games list in the US, having broken a number of serial records worldwide and sold 10 million copies in its first three days. The Switch also did well again overall, once again becoming the best-selling console of the year in North America:
