In Japan, Mario Kart World for the Nintendo Switch 2 has sold more physical copies within its first three days than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild managed during the same period after the original Switch launch.
Famitsu reports that Mario Kart World sold an impressive 782,566 physical copies in Japan, securing the top spot in weekly sales from June 2 to June 8. It's important to note that these figures only account for physical copies, console-bundled versions, and retail Game-Key Card sales—digital downloads from the My Nintendo Store are excluded, meaning actual sales are likely substantially higher.
For comparison, Breath of the Wild on the original Switch sold around 193,060 copies in Japan during its first three days following the console's launch in 2017, based on Famitsu data. This puts Mario Kart World’s initial retail performance at roughly four times that of Breath of the Wild.
This sales surge is not unexpected, as the Switch 2 is Nintendo's fastest-selling console to date, moving over 3.5 million units worldwide in just four days. In fact, the latest console is outselling the original Switch by a 2-to-1 margin. By contrast, supply limitations slowed the original Switch's launch—it sold 2.74 million units globally in nearly a month.
Switch 2 game sales in Japan were strong in the first three days post-launch. Half of Famitsu's top 10 chart was composed of Switch 2 titles, including Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (No. 6, 10,877 copies), Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (No. 7, 7,992 copies), Zelda: Breath of the Wild (No. 8, 7,529 copies), and Yakuza 0 (No. 9, 7,486 copies). Elden Ring: Nightreign (PS5) was the only non-Switch entry, ranking at No. 5.
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Although Mario Kart World is leading Breath of the Wild’s early launch numbers in Japan, it remains uncertain whether it will match the Zelda title’s lifetime sales. This is especially true considering Breath of the Wild recently received a Switch 2 HD re-release that could encourage repeat purchases.
Explore our Mario Kart World guide to learn how to unlock every hidden character and understand how Kamek Unlocks work—essential for recruiting NPC Drivers. We've also compiled a guide to all Mario Kart World food items available in the open world and their locations, which helps you permanently obtain all in-game outfits and costumes.
