Famitsu: Nintendo Switch Was The Bestselling Console In Japan In 2018

Famitsu has published a comprehensive report on the video game market in Japan for the year 2018.

According to the report, the video game market shrunk in terms of sales. In 2018, total sales were 434.3 billion yen, while in 2017, it was 446.45 billion. The bestselling game of the year in Japan was Monster Hunter: World, released for PS4 in January 2018.

However, out of the top 10 bestsellers, 8 are Nintendo Switch games, such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Pokemon Let’s GO Pikachu/Eevee. Nintendo Switch hardware sales were the highest in 2018, as the console moved 3.48 million units in the year.

Check out the full details below:

2018 vs. 2017 in Japanese Video Game Sales

• 2018
  • Hardware Sales: 170.09 billion yen
  • Software Sales: 264.21 billion yen
  • Total: 434.3 billion yen
• 2017
  • Hardware Sales: 202.37 billion yen
  • Software Sales: 244.08 billion yen
  • Total: 446.45 billion yen

■ Japan’s Top-Selling Software of 2018

1. Monster Hunter: World
   • Platform: PlayStation 4
   • Publisher: Capcom
   • Release Date: January 26, 2018
   • Physical Sales: 1,985,886
   • Digital Sales: 873,898
   • Combined Physical and Digital Sales: 2,859,784
2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Nintendo
   • Release Date: December 7, 2018
   • Physical Sales: 2,360,655
   • Digital Sales: 309,229
   • Combined Physical and Digital Sales: 2,669,884
3. Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee!
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: The Pokemon Company
   • Release Date: November 16, 2018
   • Physical Sales: 1,253,677
   • Digital Sales: 107,945
   • Combined Physical and Digital Sales: 1,361,622
4. Splatoon 2
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Nintendo
   • Release Date: July 21, 2017
   • Physical Sales: 1,122,324
   • Digital Sales: 68,630
   • Combined Physical and Digital Sales: 1,190,954
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Nintendo
   • Release Date: April 28, 2017
   • Physical Sales: 926,553
   • Digital Sales: 76,139
   • Combined Physical and Digital Sales: 1,002,692
6. Super Mario Party
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Nintendo
   • Release Date: October 5, 2018
   • Physical Sales: 764,853
   • Digital Sales: 62,739
   • Combined Physical and Digital Sales: 827,592
7. Kirby: Star Allies
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Nintendo
   • Release Date: March 16, 2018
   • Physical Sales: 664,815
   • Digital Sales: 56,104
   • Combined Physical and Digital Sales: 720,919
8. Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Microsoft
   • Release Date: June 21, 2018
   • Physical Sales: 525,045
   • Digital Sales: 166,272
   • Combined Physical and Digital Sales: 691,317
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII
   • Platform: PlayStation 4
   • Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
   • Release Date: October 12, 2018
   • Physical Sales: 479,511
   • Digital Sales: 145,458
   • Combined Physical and Digital Sales: 624,969
10. Super Mario Odyssey
    • Platform: Switch
    • Publisher: Nintendo
    • Release Date: October 27, 2017
    • Physical Sales: 575,926
    • Digital Sales: 22,020
    • Combined Physical and Digital Sales: 597,946

■ Japan’s Top-Selling Hardware of 2018

1. Switch
   • Manufacturer: Nintendo
   • Release Date: March 3, 2017
   • 2018 Sales: 3,482,388
   • Total Sales: 6,889,546
2. PlayStation 4 (including PlayStation 4 Pro)
   • Manufacturer: Sony Interactive Entertainment
   • Release Date: February 22, 2014
   • 2018 Sales: 1,695,227
   • Total Sales: 7,552,090
3. 3DS (including 3DS XL, New 3DS, New 3DS XL, 2DS, and New 2DS XL)
   • Manufacturer: Nintendo
   • Release Date: February 26, 2011
   • 2018 Sales: 566,420
   • Total Sales: 24,304,964
4. PS Vita
   • Manufacturer: Sony Interactive Entertainment
   • Release Date: December 17, 2011
   • 2018 Sales: 181,728
   • Total Sales: 5,825,354
5. Xbox One (including Xbox One S and Xbox One X)
   • Manufacturer: Microsoft
   • Release Date: September 4, 2014
   • 2018 Sales: 15,339
   • Total Sales: 102,931