Best-selling video games in Japan in February 2024 – WholesGame

The video game market in Japan has shifted away from the European and North American markets, as the Nintendo Switch remains the dominant platform. Not only did Nintendo’s aging console top the sales chart again, selling 191,000 units compared to the 147,000 PlayStation 5 units sold during the same time period.

To further prove the point, this was the first time in 8 months that a PlayStation 5 title was the top seller, thanks to Atlus’ Person 3 Reload debuting with 95,000 sales. The PlayStation 4 version, counted separately, came in at No. 5 with 52,000 copies sold. Coming in second was the Switch-exclusive, Mario vs. Donkey Kong at 89,000 units, ahead of Arc System Works Granblue Fantasy Relink with 63,000 units.

In total, Nintendo topped the charts with 399,000 units sold during February, a whopping 30% of the total market, beating Atlus 153,000 units, only 12% of the total market. 6 of the top 10 are Nintendo Switch games, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the latest Shiren the Wanderer, Momotaru Dentetsu World: The Earth Spins with Hope, Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash, and Mario Kart 8.

Sony took the other spots, in addition to the titles in the top 5, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth placed at No. 8. As per usual for Japan, the Microsoft Xbox consoles might as well not exist with a user base significantly behind the Japanese companies. In addition, every game in the top 10 is from a Japanese developer, highlighting despite attempts to penetrate the market by the likes of Activision or the Embracer group, it remains an uphill battle for foreign titles to get noticed.

With rumors of a new Nintendo Switch gaining speed, it will be interesting to see how the Japanese market reacts in the coming months. Will the Switch continue to sell or will consumers decide to wait for the new model?