Japan Weekly Sales: Silent Hill f Debuts at #1 as Switch 2 Leads Hardware; Mario Kart World Nears 1.8 Million

7 October 2025
Nintendo Switch 2
9 min.
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Japan Weekly Sales: Silent Hill f Debuts at #1 as Switch 2 Leads Hardware; Mario Kart World Nears 1.8 Million

Summary:

This week’s Japan retail charts spotlight a confident debut for Silent Hill f on PlayStation 5, which opens at the top with 57,475 boxed copies. Right behind it, Mario Kart World for Nintendo Switch 2 continues its smooth acceleration, adding 35,027 units to reach a lifetime total of 1,801,323 at retail. New arrivals are everywhere: EA Sports FC 26 lands on PS5 and Switch, Atelier Resleriana launches on both PS5 and Switch, the 9 R.I.P. sequel caters to visual novel fans, and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds drifts into the top ten on Switch. On the hardware side, Switch 2 extends its lead with 44,150 units, while the Switch OLED and PlayStation 5 follow. The spread suggests robust family-friendly demand for Nintendo’s ecosystem, while Sony benefits from headline software on PS5. We break down the winners, what the pacing implies for the fall slate, and how evergreen titles like Minecraft keep shaping retail every single week.

Market snapshot: what led the charts in Japan this week

Japan’s retail shelves saw a busy slate, and the rankings tell a story of two lanes moving in parallel. In the software lane, Silent Hill f on PlayStation 5 took the checkered flag with 57,475 physical copies, a clear day-one statement for a long-dormant horror brand. In second, Mario Kart World on Switch 2 continued to do what the franchise does best: stack consistent weekly adds. Its 35,027 more units lift the lifetime tally to 1,801,323 at retail, which is exactly the sort of durable momentum that keeps hardware legs fresh. Rounding out the top five were EA Sports FC 26 for PS5, Atelier Resleriana on Switch, and the 9 R.I.P. sequel on Switch, each finding distinct audiences—from football faithful to JRPG explorers to visual novel fans. On hardware, Switch 2 again set the pace with 44,150 units sold, with Switch OLED and PS5 following at 14,187 and 11,597 respectively. The cadence suggests Nintendo’s new-gen ecosystem is setting the tone for the fall quarter while Sony picks up headline wins through targeted releases.

Silent Hill f’s strong debut on PS5 and what it signals

A series revival needs proof on the shelf, and Silent Hill f delivered exactly that. Opening at 57,475 boxed units on PS5, it confirms that Japanese retail still turns out for atmospheric single-player horror when the pitch is clear and the creative is confident. This isn’t just nostalgia; it’s pent-up genre appetite meeting a brand with recognition across generations. The sales composition also hints at good digital upside, given horror’s tendency to skew download-friendly among late adopters. When a launch like this pops, it tends to have two effects: it adds energy to the platform holder’s weekly story (good for PS5 in Japan), and it re-anchors the IP in the public eye right before Halloween season intensifies. If word-of-mouth holds, second-week decay could stabilize better than average for the genre—especially with streamers creating that “I have to see this for myself” pressure that horror thrives on.

How PS5 benefits beyond week one

The immediate benefit is obvious—PS5 gets a week with the #1 seller—but the subtler win is ecosystem re-engagement. Players who jumped in for Silent Hill f often buy add-on accessories, pick up discounted back catalog horror, and stay tuned for the next narrative-driven release. Retail clerks and storefront algorithms alike surface similar titles, and that halo effect can cushion the platform through quieter weeks. Pair that with the PS5 Pro’s niche presence—we can see it on the board even if in small numbers—and the platform’s premium tier keeps a talking point alive with core enthusiasts.

What could slow momentum

Horror launches are front-loaded by nature. If availability dips, or if performance patches lag on any platform variant, the tail can soften quickly. Strong publisher communication and visible updates help keep fence-sitters engaged across week two and three, especially in Japan where word-of-mouth and in-store recommendations carry outsized weight.

Mario Kart World’s staying power on Switch 2

Second place with 35,027 more copies, Mario Kart World continues to be the anchor of family purchases and “one more game for the library” picks on Switch 2. That lifetime retail number—1,801,323—doesn’t just look healthy; it radiates the kind of consistency that keeps an ecosystem attractive for late adopters and parents buying into the platform. Week after week, the game provides a gentle push for secondary hardware purchases as households add a second unit or upgrade from earlier Switch models. Even modest weekly adds stack into hefty lifetime momentum by the holidays, which is exactly how evergreen Nintendo franchises turn into long-term platform pillars.

Why it keeps selling

Accessibility is king. Short races, local multiplayer, online rotations, and a difficulty curve you can dial in—these elements make Mario Kart a friction-free recommendation at the register. Combine that with themed hardware bundles, retailer promotions, and a steady drum of social media clips, and you have a flywheel that rarely stalls in Japan.

Signals to watch

Watch for seasonal events, software updates, or tie-in promotions that can spike weekly adds. Even small in-game beats can bump a chart position if they coincide with school breaks or three-day weekends.

EA Sports FC 26 arrives on multiple platforms

EA Sports FC 26 cracked the top ten twice, first with 11,327 copies on PS5 and then with 6,529 on Switch. Football brands historically do solid business at Japanese retail with a strong PlayStation lean, but the Switch side of the audience has grown steadily in recent years thanks to handheld flexibility and shared living spaces. Two entries in the same top ten underline cross-platform strength, particularly as domestic league storylines and global fixtures keep the sport in daily conversation. The debut aligns with the series’ September window timing, giving it a long runway through the winter sports calendar.

What dual-platform results tell us

Split placements suggest segmentable audiences rather than cannibalization. PS5 caters to players chasing higher fidelity and online competition; Switch caters to portability and local play. Both funnels feed overall franchise visibility, and the combined effect is free marketing—two boxes in the chart equal twice the shelf-eyeballs.

Atelier Resleriana’s split-platform opening and what fans bought

Atelier Resleriana charted on both Switch (10,425) and PS5 (9,802), a tidy result for a comfort-JRPG with a loyal base. The gap between the two versions is modest, which is often what we see when a series straddles portability and performance audiences. For Gust and Koei Tecmo, dual top-ten placements validate a strategy that meets fans where they are: pick your preferred screen, get your cozy alchemy fix, and keep your save rolling into the weekend. Expect add-on content and character packs to extend the runway; this series tends to reward steady community engagement more than explosive week-one fireworks.

What could extend its tail

Publisher-driven events, social campaigns around photo modes and builds, and cross-promotions with other Gust titles often nudge the series back into conversation. In Japan, even small retail bonuses or themed store displays can lift a niche JRPG for another week or two.

Visual novels and niche hits: 9 R.I.P. sequel finds an audience

The 9 R.I.P. sequel on Switch posted 10,037 at retail, a reminder that Japan’s boxed market still supports visual novels when the theme and character art resonate. These titles may not dominate headlines, but their communities are highly motivated and responsive to limited editions, drama CDs, and premium goods. The upside here is steady: as news circulates in fan circles, reorders come in, and the title can hover in or around the top fifteen for multiple weeks. Retailers love predictable movers, and visual novel sequels provide that rhythm.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds starts its engines on Switch

On Switch, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds entered the chart at 5,571. For a new entry in a familiar spinoff lane, the number is a decent baseline. Sonic’s brand equity in Japan is strongest with family buyers and older fans who grew up on the Mega Drive and Dreamcast, which maps well to Switch’s mixed household audience. The racer faces stiff competition from Mario Kart World, but that doesn’t erase its niche: mascot racers tend to over-index as shared family picks and budget buys during promotions. If a patch, event, or new track drops, we could see a small mid-term bump.

Evergreen sales: Minecraft’s never-ending run

Minecraft on Switch tacked on another 5,061 copies to climb its lifetime to 4,012,680 in Japan retail alone. At this point, Minecraft is more like infrastructure than a single release—teachers use it, siblings share it, and player-made worlds keep fresh content flowing without a marketing calendar. That constant inflow of new users keeps the boxed version humming, particularly on Nintendo platforms where gifting a cartridge to a younger player remains a norm. It may not headline a week, but it quietly lifts the floor of the chart, which matters just as much for retailers planning shelf space.

Hardware picture: Switch 2 momentum vs. PS5 family

Switch 2 led hardware with 44,150 units, followed by Switch OLED (14,187) and PS5 (11,597). Lower down the list, Switch Lite (6,369) continued to serve as the family-friendly entry point, PS5 Digital Edition added 3,228, and the legacy Switch still contributed 2,554. The PS5 Pro showed up with 2,086 units—a boutique slice that nonetheless keeps Sony’s premium narrative present. Xbox’s footprint remained small but consistent, and PS4’s tail has thinned to archival levels. The pattern suggests Switch 2’s broader story is intact: steady weekly throughput, a stable price-value story, and software that keeps new buyers excited. For PS5, the path is anchored by targeted hits that can spike engagement and keep queues healthy at key retailers.

Why Switch 2 keeps leading

When a platform pairs a mass-appeal evergreen (Mario Kart World) with a wide family of hardware options, it creates an on-ramp for nearly every household configuration. Add in cross-gen compatibility stories, familiar controllers, and strong local multiplayer, and you get a reliable weekly clip that rivals find hard to disrupt without a killer exclusive or major price pivot.

Lifetime context and platform health signals

The lifetime tallies tell us how sticky these platforms are in Japan. Mario Kart World’s 1.8 million at retail reads like a classic Nintendo growth curve: a big start, then months of relentless adds as word-of-mouth and social play stack. Minecraft’s 4 million lifetime on Switch shows how an evergreen can carry an audience across hardware generations. For PS5, the health signal is in renewal: when a series like Silent Hill can return and immediately top the chart, it means the platform’s core is hungry and ready to spend. Each of these signals points to a robust market where both platform holders can win on different weeks, with Nintendo holding the broader family lane and Sony surfing waves of high-interest releases.

What to watch next week in Japan

Next week’s board will test how well Silent Hill f holds in week two and whether Mario Kart World has another mini-surge in it. Keep an eye on the mid-chart scrum, where dual-platform releases jockey for spots and niche titles vie for limited shelf capacity. Promotions around sports fixtures may nudge EA Sports FC 26, while any publisher updates for Atelier Resleriana could spur fans into grabbing boxed copies before bonuses rotate. If Switch 2 bundles or store-specific promotions surface, hardware could see a small lift ahead of the autumn shopping rhythm.

Methodology and how we interpret these numbers

These rankings reflect estimated packaged sales in Japan for the week of September 22–28, 2025, sourced from established trackers that compile retailer data. Digital sales aren’t included in these boxed tallies, so the full commercial picture is larger—especially for genres with high digital share. Still, retail charts remain a crucial thermometer for discoverability, word-of-mouth, and shelf presence. We look at debut scale, second-week decay, evergreen persistence, and hardware alignment to sketch the market’s momentum. The combination of a horror hit at #1 and a family racer at #2 captures the dual personality of Japan’s games market right now—and why both platform holders can keep finding wins in the same week.

Conclusion

Silent Hill f’s #1 start gives PS5 an immediate spotlight, but Switch 2 once again defines the hardware story with 44,150 units and a tailwind from Mario Kart World, which now sits at 1.8 million lifetime at retail. New releases across sports, JRPG, visual novels, and racers make this a lively chart, while Minecraft quietly reinforces the floor. As we head deeper into the season, expect Nintendo’s family pipeline to keep the weekly baseline high and Sony’s targeted launches to punctuate the narrative with sharp spikes. That balance is healthy for Japan’s retail ecosystem—and it keeps the weekly charts fun to watch.

FAQs
  • What was the best-selling game this week?
    • Silent Hill f on PS5 led the charts with 57,475 physical copies, reflecting strong interest in the series’ return and solid retail pull for narrative-driven horror in Japan.
  • Which platform topped hardware sales?
    • Nintendo Switch 2 led hardware with 44,150 units, followed by Switch OLED at 14,187 and PS5 at 11,597. The pattern continues a steady weekly lead for Switch 2.
  • How is Mario Kart World performing?
    • Mario Kart World added 35,027 units this week on Switch 2, pushing its lifetime retail total to 1,801,323. It remains a consistent driver of hardware interest.
  • Did any multi-platform games chart twice?
    • Yes. EA Sports FC 26 appeared on PS5 with 11,327 units and on Switch with 6,529, showing healthy cross-platform interest among Japan’s retail buyers.
  • Which evergreen title is still in the top ten?
    • Minecraft on Switch sold another 5,061 copies, bringing its lifetime retail total in Japan to 4,012,680—an astonishing long-tail that keeps delivering week after week.
Sources
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