In Japan, the Nintendo Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World has surpassed the physical copy sales of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Switch 1 launch title, within the first three days of release.

According to Famitsu, Mario Kart World sold an impressive 782,566 physical copies in Japan during the week of June 2 to June 8, securing its position as the top-selling game. Note that Famitsu’s data only includes physical, preinstalled-on-console, and Game-Key Card sales from retail stores, excluding digital downloads from My Nintendo Store, suggesting total sales are likely even higher.

By comparison, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sold approximately 193,060 copies in Japan during its first three days after the original Switch launched in 2017, per Famitsu. This indicates Mario Kart World’s retail sales in Japan are roughly four times higher than Breath of the Wild’s initial figures on the Switch 1.

This strong performance aligns with the Switch 2 being Nintendo’s fastest-selling console ever, moving over 3.5 million units globally in its first four days. The Switch 2 is outselling the original Switch by a 2-to-1 margin. The supply-limited Switch 1, in contrast, sold 2.74 million units worldwide in its first month.

During the first three days post-launch, physical Switch 2 games dominated Japan’s sales charts. Half of Famitsu’s top 10 were 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 title, ranking at No. 5.

Mario Kart World Review Screenshots

While Mario Kart World is sprinting past Breath of the Wild’s initial sales in Japan, it remains uncertain whether it will match the critically acclaimed Zelda title’s lifetime sales. The recent Switch 2 HD rerelease of Breath of the Wild could encourage fans to repurchase the game.

Explore our Mario Kart World guide to unlock every hidden character and understand Kamek Unlocks for NPC Drivers. We also offer a guide to locate all Mario Kart World food items in the open world, helping you secure every outfit and costume permanently.