Summary
- Mario games dominate Nintendo's console sales, with titles like Super Mario Bros. and Mario Kart being top-sellers.
- Pokemon is also a major player in Nintendo's success, with games like Red and Blue and Gold and Silver selling millions.
- Each Nintendo console has its iconic best-seller, from Wii Sports on the Wii to New Super Mario Bros. on the DS.
Nintendo has been around for a long time, so the company has played a part in several console generations— more than the likes of Xbox and PlayStation. So, there have been a lot of Nintendo systems. Each one's games catalog heavily featured first-party titles. After all, Nintendo has always relied more on its own games than those by other publishers.
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Posts 1The likes of Mario, Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, Smash Bros, and more all fit under the Nintendo umbrella. So, it’s no surprise that many of the best-selling titles on its consoles are first-party ones. Here are the highest-sellers on each system.
12 Nintendo Entertainment System
Super Mario Bros. - 40.24 Million
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LikeSuper Mario Bros.
Platformer Systems Released November 17, 1985 ESRB e Developer(s) Nintendo R&D4 Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine miyamoto Franchise Super MarioWHERE TO PLAY
PHYSICALIf you’ve ever wondered why Mario became the face of the Nintendo brand, the first game selling 40.24 million copies was a big reason why. It was unsurprisingly the best-selling game on the NES, and nothing really came that close. It was bundled with the console, so that gave it an advantage.
The game is still fondly remembered to this day and holds up well. The level design remains fantastic, as does the presentation. Even modern-day Mario games still contain elements that were introduced in this original title.
11 Game Boy
Pokemon Red And Blue - 31.37 Million
Pokemon has become a prominent media franchise, and it all started with Pokemon Red and Blue on the original Game Boy. The game sold 31.37 million copies, and that isn't including Pokemon Yellow's sales.
While everyone is used to the concept of Pokemon games by this point, it was an original concept back when this game was released. The idea of a world filled with small, unique creatures that you can battle and capture was very creative. It helped that the game was satisfying to play, too.
10 Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Super Mario World - 20.61 Million
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Like Follow FollowedSuper Mario World
Platformer Systems Released August 23, 1991 ESRB E For Everyone Developer(s) Nintendo EAD Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Proprietary Engine Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Franchise Super MarioWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALSuper Mario World brought the famous Italian plumber to the Super Nintendo in 1991, and quickly became the best-selling game of all time on that system. With the help of the dinosaur, Yoshi, you must once again save Princess Peach from captivity.
Platform(s) SNES, Nintendo Game Boy Advance Powered by Expand CollapseThe second Nintendo home console, the SNES, had some incredible games. However, it’s hard to beat the juggernaut that is Mario, so, of course, Super Mario World was the best-selling title on the system.
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PostsThis game is often regarded as one of the best Mario games ever. It shares a lot of the same concepts as the original titles, as it’s a 2D platformer that has you jumping around colorful levels. However, the game is visually a bit different, and it includes Yoshi, as this was the creature’s first appearance in the series.
9 Nintendo 64
Super Mario 64 - 11.91 Million
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Like Follow FollowedSuper Mario 64
3D Platformer Systems Released September 26, 1996 ESRB E for Everyone Developer(s) Nintendo Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Nintendo 64 SDK Franchise Super Mario Bros.WHERE TO PLAY
PHYSICALInitially launched for the Nintendo 64 in 1996, Super Mario 64 was the first to take the plumber into the 3D platform genre. Once again you must rescue Princess Peach from Bowser's clutches, seeking out the Power Stars along the way.
Platform(s) N64 Powered by Expand CollapseThe Nintendo 64 wasn’t quite as successful as the NES and SNES, but that can’t be down to game quality. You could play plenty of classic titles on the N64. One of the best and most famous was Super Mario 64, which outsold everything else released on the system.
The game was the first 3D Mario title to be released. Switching from 2D to 3D isn’t easy for a popular series. Yet, Mario 64 made the transition look seamless. In fact, the extra dimension allowed the developers to be even more creative when it came to designing levels.
8 Game Boy Color
Pokemon Gold And Silver - 23.1 Million
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Like Follow FollowedPokemon Gold and Silver
JRPG Systems 10.0/10 Released October 15, 2000 ESRB Everyone // Mild Cartoon Violence, Simulated Gambling Developer(s) Game Freak Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine unreal engine Multiplayer Local Multiplayer Franchise Pokemon Number of Players 1 Platform(s) Nintendo Game Boy Color Powered by Expand CollapseLike the original Game Boy, the top-selling title on the Game Boy Color was part of the Pokemon series. While Gold and Silver wasn't quite as successful as Red and Blue, it was still a hit, gaining 23.1 million sales.
The game was similar to the first in concept. You're a Pokemon trainer who catches Pokemon and fights Gym Leaders. Yet, the Pokemon you're catching, using, and fighting are different, as this is the second generation of Pokemon.
7 Game Boy Advance
Pokemon Ruby And Sapphire - 16.22 Million
Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire
RPG Systems 10.0/10 Released March 19, 2003 ESRB e Developer(s) Game Freak Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Unreal Engine Multiplayer Local Multiplayer Franchise PokemonWHERE TO PLAY
PHYSICALPokemon was really the big series for Nintendo's Game Boy consoles. Like the first two, the highest-selling game on Game Boy Advance was from that series: Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. Plus, other Pokemon games did very well on the system, such as Emerald and FireRed and LeafGreen.
Ruby and Sapphire served as the third generation of Pokemon games. So, it introduced new creatures for you to catch. The core premise of the title was the same as the others, as you're a trainer that's trying to catch all the Pokemon and defeat the famous Gym Leaders. The premise still wasn't stale by this point.
6 Nintendo GameCube
Super Smash Bros Melee - 7.09 Million
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Like Follow FollowedSuper Smash Bros. Melee
Fighting Systems Released December 3, 2001 ESRB T For Teen due to Comic Mischief, Mild Violence Developer(s) HAL Laboratory Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Havok Multiplayer Local Co-Op Franchise Super Smash Bros.WHERE TO PLAY
PHYSICALSuper Smash Bros. Melee is the Nintendo GameCube sequel to the hit platform fighter, and has endurimg popularity in the community more than two decades after launch. It doubled its predecessor's roster for a total of 26 fighters.
Platform(s) GameCube Powered by Expand CollapseThe GameCube wasn’t one of Nintendo’s biggest success stories. It didn’t sell as well as its predecessors, likely due to releasing the same year as the original Xbox and only one year after the PS2. This is why the top game on the system only sold 7.09 million copies. That game is an iconic one, though, as it’s Super Smash Bros Melee.
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PostsWhile it isn’t the first entry in the series, it is the one that really put the platform fighter series on the map. Its fast-paced, action-packed fighting mechanics were a delight. And the game was well-tuned enough to become prominent in the competitive scene.
5 Nintendo DS
New Super Mario Bros. - 30.8 Million
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Platformer Systems Released May 15, 2006 ESRB e Developer(s) Nintendo EAD Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Miyamoto Multiplayer Local Multiplayer Franchise Super MarioWHERE TO PLAY
PHYSICALIn the mid-2000s, Nintendo moved away from Game Boy to make a new handheld system known as Nintendo DS. One of the console's best exclusives was New Super Mario Bros. It also happened to be the best-selling game on the system since it sold 30.8 million copies.
At the time of release, it was a bit of a throwback Mario game. After all, the series had seemingly moved onto 3D titles after Mario 64, but this is a 2D side-scroller. It showed that this type of Mario game could still exist as it was a brilliant title.
4 Nintendo Wii
Wii Sports - 82.9 Million
While the GameCube wasn't a runaway success, the Nintendo Wii certainly was. In fact, it is one of the most successful consoles ever. This is due to its uniqueness, as it fully commits to motion controls. These controls were really shown off in the system's best-selling game, Wii Sports.
It's worth noting that Wii Sports sold more than any other because it was bundled with the console. So, you couldn't get a Nintendo Wii without it. However, it still deserves praise for being a fun sports game that shows off what the Wii can do.
3 Nintendo 3DS
Mario Kart 7 - 18.99 Million
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LikeMario Kart 7
Racing Action Systems 10.0/10 Released December 1, 2011 ESRB e Developer(s) Nintendo, Nintendo EAD, Retro Studios Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine havok engine Franchise Mario KartWHERE TO PLAY
PHYSICALThere are many series that star the famous Mario, and most of them are successful. For example, Mario Kart 7 ranks as the best-selling Nintendo 3DS game. A few Pokemon titles almost recaptured the series' reputation of being the most successful handheld games for Nintendo. Yet, they didn't sell quite as well as Mario Kart 7.
Like every entry in the series, Mario Kart 7 is a kart racer featuring characters from the Mario universe. So, the likes of Yoshi, Bowser, Luigi, and more race around distinct, colorful tracks with one another.
