Nintendo Switch has sold more than 155 million units worldwide, making it Nintendo’s highest-selling console to date.
Strong first-party titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons have played a key role in its long-term success.
While Switch dominates Nintendo’s hardware history, comparisons with older consoles and the newer Switch 2 provide important context.
The launch of Switch nearly a decade ago was a turning point for Nintendo in the gaming industry. Initially, the console was introduced as a risky experiment that combined handheld and home console gaming. However, over time, it has become one of the most successful gaming platforms worldwide.
Even after the introduction of Switch 2, the Original Switch surprised the gaming world with its lifetime sales record. If you are wondering what sets Switch apart from its peers, this article explains how the console dominates the gaming industry.
Nintendo was struggling with Wii U before introducing Switch in 2017. Wii U was a disaster and caused a significant decline in the share price of the Japanese gaming giant. Switch’s release not only saved the organization from a crisis but also more than tripled its valuation. This was Nintendo’s most-awaited success and continued for nine long years. The latest reports reveal that the Nintendo Switch console has sold over 155 million units worldwide, including all variants such as the original Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED.
The sales record for Switch now establishes it as the highest-selling Nintendo console. Its total sales exceed the lifetime sales of the Nintendo DS. This achievement is significant for various reasons. The Nintendo DS operated as the leading handheld device, but the Switch created a unified console system for Nintendo. It captured casual players, hardcore gamers, and families, extending its life span.
The success of the Nintendo Switch has brought the console closer to the PlayStation 2, which holds the record for the highest-selling console in history, with total sales of 160 million units.
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Examining Nintendo’s previous consoles is necessary to understand why the Switch has dominated sales. After Nintendo DS, the Game Boy and Game Boy Color are Nintendo’s two top-selling consoles at approximately 118 million units sold throughout their lifetimes. The next-highest seller, Wii, has sold approximately 101 million units.
These consoles were unique, but what makes the Switch stand out is its consistency. It’s been 8 years since the console was launched, yet it still generates strong annual sales that most consoles fail to match. This is not only because of clever hardware design, but also the flow of renowned titles over the years.
Consoles generally get popularity for the titles they offer. Nintendo Switch is not an exception. The games that the console offers push its sales to the top. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most prominent reason.
This game remains one of the highest-selling games in the console’s history, with over 70 million copies sold to date. Some of the other close rivals are Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
These games not only became top sellers but also greatly contributed to the continued expansion of the fanbase worldwide.
Nintendo’s next-gen Switch console, Switch 2, was launched in 2025. The welcome was record-breaking. Launched in June 2025, the Nintendo console had sold more than 17 million units worldwide as of December 2025. Nintendo predicts it will reach nearly 19 million in the fiscal year.
While the Nintendo Switch's sales are still far from its lifetime total, it launched faster than most Nintendo consoles. However, it’s highly unlikely that Switch 2 will challenge the original Switch’s historic sales anytime soon. It will take years to touch the milestone.
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Nintendo Switch is the best-selling console ever in Nintendo’s history, with more than 155 million units. While Switch 2 represents the company’s future, the original Switch preserves the legacy of Nintendo's gaming over the years. It is not only a commercial victory, but it is Nintendo’s success as a console developer.
1. Is the Nintendo Switch Nintendo’s best-selling console ever?
Ans: Yes. With over 155 million units sold globally, the Nintendo Switch has surpassed the Nintendo DS to become Nintendo’s highest-selling console of all time.
2. How many units of the Nintendo Switch have been sold worldwide?
Ans: As of the latest reports, total Nintendo Switch sales, including Switch Lite and OLED models, have crossed 155 million units globally.
3. Which games are most played on the Nintendo Switch?
Ans: Top titles include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
4. How does the Nintendo Switch compare with older Nintendo consoles?
Ans: The Switch has outperformed the Nintendo DS, Wii, and Game Boy families in lifetime sales, making it Nintendo’s most successful console to date.
5. Has Switch 2 sold more than the original Nintendo Switch?
Ans: No. While Switch 2 has seen strong early sales, it is still far behind the original Switch’s lifetime numbers, which were built over nearly a decade.