Japanese charts: Mario Kart World stays on top as Switch 2 surpasses two million units

25 September 2025
Nintendo Switch 2
9 min.
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Japanese charts: Mario Kart World stays on top as Switch 2 surpasses two million units

Summary:

We’re looking at a week in Japan that tells a very clear story: the Nintendo Switch 2 leads hardware again and has now crossed the two-million mark in lifetime sales, while Mario Kart World refuses to give up the pole position on the software side. Mario Kart World added 38,026 boxed copies, pushing its retail lifetime to 1,732,435 and reminding everyone why karting is the country’s favourite spectator sport on a TV screen. Newcomer Borderlands 4 landed on PS5 with 13,029 boxed sales to secure second place, while Donkey Kong Bananza held steady in third on Switch 2. Elsewhere, evergreen Nintendo Switch titles and anime staples stayed resilient, with Minecraft still pulling thousands of physical units every single week years after launch. Hardware was headlined by Switch 2 at 44,278 units, followed by PS5 family consoles and the various Switch models, as the market continues to balance fresh hardware excitement with long-tail software that keeps players engaged.

Market snapshots and why they matter for Japan’s games market

This week is a tidy microcosm of Japan’s console ecosystem: a dominant Nintendo platform powered by family-friendly evergreens, a healthy PlayStation base that can still deliver strong debuts for Western franchises, and a long tail of legacy Switch models that keep ticking along. The headline is simple—Switch 2 continues to set the pace and has now cleared the two-million threshold in Japan. That momentum matters because the hardware base drives the software pipeline, and we can already see how titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza are benefiting. On the software chart, Mario Kart World remains number one with another comfortable lead, while Borderlands 4 shows that a well-timed, multi-platform blockbuster can still muscle into the top spots, even in a Nintendo-leaning week.

Mario Kart World extends its lead with another strong week

Mario Kart World added 38,026 boxed copies, which is an impressive figure for a title deep into its lifecycle. It brings the physical lifetime to 1,732,435 units—evidence that the franchise’s pick-up-and-play appeal still resonates with households, college dorms, and competitive couch sessions across Japan. We’re seeing the typical “evergreen curve”: steady weekly sales rather than volatile spikes, a hallmark of Nintendo’s most resilient series. The weekly number also reflects robust attachment among new Switch 2 owners; whenever hardware moves, kart sales tend to follow. The mix of local multiplayer, online competition, and dense track variety reduces buyer hesitation. In short, Mario Kart World isn’t just selling; it’s anchoring the ecosystem and pulling other games in its wake.

What’s driving Mario Kart World’s staying power

The staying power comes from a blend of accessibility, social stickiness, and long-tail support. In Japan, living rooms and student apartments still value same-room play, which Mario Kart consistently nails with quick races and easy-to-learn handling. Online helps extend the loop, but the real magic is how quickly a casual session turns into a best-of-ten rematch marathon. Parents also trust the brand, which lowers friction at the register. Occasional content updates and seasonal promotions keep awareness high, while streamers and school clubs keep the skill ceiling in the public eye. Together, these factors ensure that Mario Kart World behaves less like a one-and-done release and more like a staple—always on the shelf, always ready to be recommended.

How it compares with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s evergreen run

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still racking up numbers years after its original launch, posting another 4,012 boxed units this week to bring its lifetime to a staggering 6,440,109 at retail in Japan. That kind of endurance is rare and sets a high bar for any successor. The two releases now coexist: Deluxe caters to the massive installed base of the original Switch family, while World acts as a natural companion purchase for new Switch 2 owners. The combined effect is that the brand dominates multiple hardware generations at once. For retailers, this means dependable recommendations; for platform holders, it means a steady flow of new users learning the ecosystem through a polished, social racer.

New entries and notable movers led by Borderlands 4

Borderlands 4 entered the chart on PS5 with 13,029 boxed copies, a solid debut for a Western looter-shooter in a market that traditionally skews toward domestic IP and Nintendo’s family-led catalogue. The launch timing helped: early September gives it space before end-of-month releases, and the franchise’s co-op gunplay offers a different flavor from the week’s top sellers. Elsewhere, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater on PS5 continued to add respectable numbers with 4,865 boxed sales, while Super Robot Wars Y found another 3,921 buyers—both typical of series that benefit from dedicated fanbases. What stands out is the balance: even as Switch-led titles dominate the top ten, there’s room for PlayStation-driven entries to carve out their lanes.

Donkey Kong Bananza’s steady momentum on Switch 2

Donkey Kong Bananza held in the top three with 10,577 boxed sales this week, lifting its lifetime to 307,141. Platformers with smart level design and strong brand recognition tend to enjoy legs in Japan, and Bananza is following that expected pattern. The game also provides a genre counterweight to Mario Kart World in the Switch 2 library, appealing to players who want tight, precision-based stages alongside party-friendly racing. As the Switch 2 base expands, these character-driven adventures typically act as secondary purchases—something you pick up after the must-have racer. That dynamic helps explain why Bananza’s week-over-week declines have been gentle rather than steep, signaling a healthy tail into the autumn window.

Legacy favourites that won’t quit: Minecraft and more

Minecraft on Nintendo Switch sold another 5,539 boxed copies, nudging its lifetime to an eye-watering 4,001,857 units at retail—proof that the sandbox juggernaut is functionally eternal in Japan. Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar contributed 8,547, playing to fans of cozy farming loops. Everybody’s Golf World added 5,930, while the anime-powered Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 posted 7,041 more. These franchises may not headline the news cycle every week, but they pad store shelves with reliable options that match a broad range of tastes. That reliability supports stable foot traffic for retailers and predictable orders for distributors, keeping the boxed channel healthy even as digital continues to grow.

Hardware snapshot: Switch 2 passes the 2 million milestone

On the hardware side, Switch 2 once again led the pack with 44,278 units for the week, pushing its lifetime total past two million in Japan to 2,024,761. That’s a psychological milestone as much as a commercial one. Crossing a round number this early reinforces platform confidence for developers and retail partners planning holiday allocations. It also underlines how quickly Japanese households move when a device matches their habits: seamless handheld-to-TV play, family-friendly software, and local multiplayer remain decisive factors. With the hardware lead secure this week, we’re seeing a positive feedback loop—more consoles sold mean stronger legs for first-party hits, which in turn sustain hardware sell-through.

How the rest of the hardware field performed this week

Beyond Switch 2, the Switch family remained active: OLED Model at 10,568, Switch Lite at 5,606, and the original Switch adding 2,875 as it enters its true legacy phase. On the PlayStation side, PS5 moved 10,515 units, with the Digital Edition adding 9,199 and PS5 Pro contributing 1,989. These figures show a competitive base that still attracts big third-party releases, even if the top headline skews Nintendo. Elsewhere, Xbox Series X and its Digital Edition moved 51 and 47 units respectively, and Series S added 27. PlayStation 4’s twilight presence continued with 13 units—a rounding error but a reminder of how long that platform has persisted in the market.

What’s behind Switch 2’s momentum in Japan

Momentum comes from alignment: industrial design that fits daily life, software that welcomes every age group, and a release cadence that keeps shelves lively without overwhelming buyers. The price-value equation also matters; households view Switch 2 as a single purchase that covers solo commutes, family nights, and social gatherings. Crucially, Nintendo’s slate this year provides both anchors and variety—Mario Kart World for party nights, Donkey Kong Bananza for tight platforming, and a steady stream of recognizable brands that lower the risk of regret. Add strong retail presence and clear merchandising, and you get a platform that sells itself every time someone tries a race or a stage at a friend’s house.

Lifetime milestones that color this week’s story

Life-to-date totals add helpful texture. Switch OLED has now reached 9,177,360 in Japan, acting as the premium alternative in the original line. The base Switch’s towering 20,148,084 lifetime cements its role as the generation’s workhorse, while Lite at 6,663,260 shows the staying power of a lower-cost route into the library. On the PlayStation side, PS5 stands at 5,781,989, the Digital Edition at 1,001,896, and PS5 Pro at 247,755. These numbers explain why older titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Minecraft remain in the chart: millions of compatible consoles are still in homes, and boxed copies continue to find buyers who enjoy physical shelves, resale value, or simply the ritual of unwrapping a game.

The full top 10 at a glance (with context)

Here’s how the boxed software chart shook out, with weekly sales followed by lifetime totals. The key takeaway is balance: a dominant first-party racer, a strong Western debut, several Nintendo staples, and mid-tier hits that thrive on fan enthusiasm. This mix is precisely what keeps retail vibrant—there’s something for quick drop-ins, something for long campaigns, and plenty for families looking for a dependable weekend pick.

  • [SW2] Mario Kart World (Nintendo, 06/05/25) – 38,026 (1,732,435)
  • [PS5] Borderlands 4 (Take-Two Interactive, 09/12/25) – 13,029 (New)
  • [SW2] Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo, 07/17/25) – 10,577 (307,141)
  • [NSW] Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (Marvelous, 08/27/25) – 8,547 (68,638)
  • [NSW] Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 (Aniplex, 08/01/25) – 7,041 (116,527)
  • [NSW] Everybody’s Golf World (Bandai Namco, 09/04/25) – 5,930 (41,069)
  • [NSW] Minecraft (Microsoft, 06/21/18) – 5,539 (4,001,857)
  • [PS5] Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (Konami, 08/28/25) – 4,865 (78,198)
  • [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo, 04/28/17) – 4,012 (6,440,109)
  • [NSW] Super Robot Wars Y (Bandai Namco, 08/28/25) – 3,921 (74,633)

Stability is the theme. With Switch 2 now well past two million units, weekly software for that platform will likely remain top-heavy around Nintendo’s marquee brands. At the same time, PS5 continues to bring in high-profile third-party launches that can punctuate the chart even in Nintendo-leaning weeks, as seen with Borderlands 4. As September rolls on, expect retailer promotions to create temporary bumps for catalogue titles, especially ones with strong word-of-mouth. Watch for how Mario Kart World’s weekly line holds up against event weeks and how Donkey Kong Bananza behaves as more households add a second or third game to their new console library. Small shifts in hardware mix will ripple into the software pecking order.

Retail vs. digital dynamics and how they shape the chart

Japan’s physical market remains unusually robust by global standards, thanks to collector culture, gift-giving traditions, and the simple appeal of neat rows of game cases in crowded urban apartments. That said, digital continues to nibble at the edges. What we’re seeing is a pragmatic split: families and collectors often prefer boxed for long-term favorites and gifts, while digitally savvy players use sales and preloads for day-one access. For our purposes, the boxed chart still acts as a reliable heartbeat for momentum. When a game like Mario Kart World posts another strong retail week, it’s a signal that broader engagement is healthy across formats, not just on a single storefront.

Key takeaways for publishers and retailers

For publishers, the lesson is clear: align releases with platform momentum. Switch 2’s lead creates headroom for character-led franchises and multiplayer staples; PS5’s base can still deliver tidy debuts for shooters, RPGs, and remakes backed by marketing. For retailers, keep Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza front and center as attach drivers, and make room on endcaps for timely third-party arrivals like Borderlands 4. Meanwhile, don’t sleep on stalwarts such as Minecraft and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe—they convert casual foot traffic and make excellent bundle recommendations. In short, lean into the anchors, respect the long tail, and let the platform leaders lift the entire floor of weekly sell-through.

Conclusion

Mario Kart World continues to set the pace, Switch 2 has crossed a crucial milestone, and third-party debuts still carve out meaningful wins on PS5. That mix keeps Japan’s boxed market lively and predictable in the best way: steady hits at the top, dependable mid-tiers underneath, and hardware momentum that feeds the whole stack. As we move toward the busier autumn weeks, watch how this balance evolves—if recent form holds, expect Nintendo’s anchors to keep pulling while timely PlayStation launches add punctuation marks to otherwise stable charts.

FAQs
  • Which game ranked first this week in Japan? — Mario Kart World was number one again, selling 38,026 boxed copies and bringing its lifetime total to 1,732,435.
  • Did any new release enter the top ten? — Yes. Borderlands 4 debuted on PS5 with 13,029 boxed copies, securing a top-two placement in its launch week.
  • Which hardware sold the most units? — Nintendo Switch 2 led hardware with 44,278 units for the week and has now surpassed two million units sold in Japan.
  • Are legacy Switch titles still selling? — Absolutely. Minecraft added 5,539 boxed sales this week, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold 4,012, reflecting huge installed bases.
  • How did PlayStation perform overall? — PS5 sold 10,515 units, the Digital Edition 9,199, and PS5 Pro 1,989, supporting a healthy environment for third-party launches.
Sources
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