The Switch is the first console to sweep Japan’s game sales chart in 33 years

The Nintendo Switch isn’t struggling to compete against the PlayStation 5 on its home turf in Japan… far from it. Game Data Library, Axios and IGN report that every game on Famitsu‘s August 8th weekly Top 30 chart was a Switch title, ranging from Super Mario Maker 2 in 30th place to Minecraft at the top. It’s reportedly the first time a platform has swept that chart since November 1988, when Nintendo’s own Famicom (the basis for the NES) dominated the list.

Nintendo has controlled the Japanese games chart with multiple platforms before. In the early 1990s, the Famicom, Super Famicom (aka Super NES) and Game Boy cemented its position. It’s much harder for a single system to rule the rankings, though.

There’s also a sharp contrast with the US. While the Switch has outsold rival consoles in the country and frequently thrives in game sales (Skyward Sword HD was July’s best-selling game), it typically faces stiffer competition from the PlayStation and Xbox ecosystems.

There wasn’t a direct explanation for the sweep, although the titles reflect both Nintendo’s influence and local tastes. Most of the games are either Nintendo’s (including Skyward Sword and Mario …read more