Kirbyis second
Nintendo has provided“most downloaded games in Japan” Switch charts for 2022, and it’s looking real good forPokemon Legends.
Providing rankings for the first half of 2022,Pokemon Legendstakes the undisputed crown from every other Switch game: benefitting from a January 2022 launch. Right behind it isKirby and the Forgotten Land, followed byNintendo Switch Sports(which is doing better than some expected it to).
From there we dive into third-party land withMonster Hunter Rise, then are reminded of the raw staying power ofMario Kart 8 Deluxe(which launched in the region in 2014), then we’re back to third parties withOvercooked 2, Among Us,andBrave Corps Defeats the Demon Kingrespectively for places six through eight. Then at spots nine and ten we predictably haveSuper Smash Bros. UltimateandZelda: Breath of the Wild,which are hanging on in multiple regions, not just Japan.
The rest of the list is a fascinating microcosm of what does/doesn’t work in Japan (theKingdom Heartscloud versionsseem to be doing well, with two showings in the top 30 overall), and reinforces the evergreen nature of many first-party Nintendo games.
Nintendo also has annual rankings herefor 2020 and 2021.
