Nintendo has produced some of the most iconic video games in history. From Super Mario to Zelda to Pokémon, the series have shaped entire generations of gamers for decades. But which Nintendo games were actually the biggest sales successes?

The answer might surprise even die-hard Nintendo fans. While some timeless classics were able to defend their place, the hits of the Switch era in particular have made rapid progress in recent years. Some titles even managed to overtake legendary Pokémon and Mario games.

We’ll show you the ten best-selling Nintendo games of all time – from number 10 to the undisputed number 1.

10th place: New Super Mario Bros. – Nintendo DS

Sales: 30.80 million

In 2006, Nintendo achieved something that many fans had already missed: Mario returned in a classic 2D adventure. New Super Mario Bros. combined modern design with the charm of the old NES classics and quickly became a must-buy for DS owners.

To this day, the platformer is one of the most successful handheld games of all time, with over 30 million copies sold.

9th place: Pokémon Red/Green/Blue – Game Boy

Sales: 31.40 million

It’s hard to believe: the games that started it all are still in the top 10 30 years after their debut.

Pokémon Red, Green and Blue appeared in Japan in 1996 and sparked a worldwide boom. Back then, millions of players set out to catch all the Pokémon for the first time. The success of these editions laid the foundation for one of the most valuable entertainment franchises in the world.

8th place: Wii Sports Resort – Wii

Sales: 33.14 million

After the huge success of Wii Sports, Nintendo followed up. Wii Sports Resort brought new disciplines such as archery, sword fighting and jet ski racing to the console and took advantage of the improved Wii MotionPlus motion controls.

The result: over 33 million copies sold and one of the biggest Wii successes ever.

7th place: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch

Sales: 33.84 million

Many fans consider Breath of the Wild to be the best Zelda of all time.

With its open game world, countless possibilities and radically new game concept, the adventure practically redefined the series. The title was released in 2017 at the launch of the Nintendo Switch and quickly became a system seller.

More than 33 million sales speak for themselves.

6th place: Mario Kart Wii – Wii

Sales: 37.38 million

Anyone who owned a Wii back then probably ended up on the virtual race tracks with friends or family at some point. Mario Kart Wii introduced motorcycles, relied on an extensive online mode and finally made the series a mass phenomenon. To this day, the title is one of the most popular spin-offs in the entire series.

5th place: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Nintendo Switch

Sales: 37.76 million

“Everyone is here” wasn’t just an advertising slogan. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate brought together virtually every major character in the series’ history in a single game. Mario, Link, Pikachu, Kirby, Sonic and many other characters fight together for victory.

With almost 38 million sales, Ultimate is the most successful part of the series and the best-selling fighting game of all time.

4th place: Super Mario Bros. – NES

Sales: 40.24 million

Some games never age.

Super Mario Bros. was released for the NES in 1985 and revolutionized the platforming genre. Many of the elements that seem self-evident today were first established here. Even more than four decades later, the classic remains one of the most successful video games of all time.

3rd place: Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch

Sales: 49.91 million

Animal Crossing: New Horizons became a worldwide phenomenon during the corona pandemic. Millions of players built their dream islands, visited friends and created creative worlds.

The relaxed life simulation game sold almost 50 million times, making it by far the most successful part of the series.

2nd place: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Nintendo Switch

Sales: 71.08 million

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has long since developed from a successful racing game into a real long-running hit. Thanks to regular updates, DLC tracks and local and online multiplayer modes, the community is still growing today.

With over 71 million copies sold, it is the most successful Switch game ever – and one of the most successful video games in history.

But even this gigantic number is not enough for first place.

1st place: Wii Sports – Wii

Sales: 82.90 million

The king remains on the throne.

For many people, Wii Sports was their first introduction to video games. Tennis, bowling and golf could be played intuitively thanks to motion controls and made the Wii known far beyond the classic gaming target group.

Since the game was included with the Wii console in many regions, it achieved sales figures that no other Nintendo game has been able to surpass to this day. With almost 83 million copies sold, Wii Sports remains the undisputed number 1.

The complete top 20 best-selling Nintendo games (as of March 2026)

Would you have thought that Animal Crossing, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Breath of the Wild have now left several Pokémon classics behind? And although the Switch generation has shaken up the list, Wii Sports remains unrivaled almost two decades after its release.

Looking ahead, it will be particularly exciting to see whether Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will break the magic mark of 80 million sales – or whether a future Switch 2 hit will turn the rankings upside down again.