Donkey Kong Bananza becomes the second-best-selling game in Japan during its opening days

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As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news! This week, Famitsu disclosed the initial physical sales figures for Donkey Kong Bananza, and it seems that the Nintendo Switch 2 saw a substantial increase in sales as well. The buzz around this new 3D platformer is immense, with review scores placing it among the highest of the year so far. On Metacritic, it’s currently at 90/100, just a few points shy of Split Fiction, Blue Prince, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

In Japan, according to sales data reported by Gematsu from Famitsu, Donkey Kong Bananza has sold an impressive 127,905 copies since its release on July 17th. This makes it the top-selling new game launch between July 14th and July 20th, despite being available for only half of that period. Truly, the hype around this game is well-deserved!

Donkey Kong Bananza is the second-highest selling game in Japan during its launch week

In simpler terms, you might ask, “Which game is currently the top seller?” Well, it’s none other than “Mario Kart World”. Surprisingly, even after its high price tag of $80 that sparked some controversy among fans, this game is still flying off the shelves. It’s only slightly ahead of “Donkey Kong Bananza”, with a lead of approximately 7,465 copies in sales during the same week. However, it’s important to note that the popularity of “Mario Kart” is such that even an eleven-year-old game like “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” managed to sell over 8,000 units in the same period, placing it at number four.

According to Famitsu’s report, the sales of the Nintendo Switch 2 increased significantly this week, going from 71,885 to 152,165 units. This surge in sales might be due to the new Donkey Kong game or an increase in Mario Kart World sales. As a relatively new console, the Switch 2 outperformed all other consoles by a substantial margin this week. However, the original Nintendo Switch is still competing for the title of best-selling console of all time, with over 10,000 units sold between the Switch OLED, Switch Lite, and the classic model combined.

Some other fun facts:

  • The third best-selling game was Tamagotchi Plaza, published by Bandai Namco. Specifically, the Nintendo Switch version, not the Switch 2 version. The Switch 2 edition ranked eighth, with sales just under half those of the other version.
  • But the sheer drop in numbers shows the power of Nintendo’s first-party software. Tamagotchi Plaza sold just over 9,000 in third place compared to Bananza’s 127,000 in second place.
  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons also made the cut, coming in fifth after Mario Kart 8, with 6,664 sales.

These numbers aren’t the best measures of success since they are specific to Japan, refer only to physical copies, and are merely estimates. Nintendo seldom shares its sales data, and when it does, it often neglects to include digital sales figures. Consequently, it might take some time to fully grasp the extent of what “Bananza” achieved.

Embarking on an exciting new adventure with “Donkey Kong Bananza” is just the start! The lightning-fast sales of the Switch 2, which hit a staggering five million in its inaugural month, are a testament to its popularity. However, those numbers will undoubtedly escalate even further. As more gamers flock to the Switch 2, they’ll find “Donkey Kong Bananza” ready and waiting among the finest, if not the absolute best, exclusive titles gracing this exceptional console.

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2025-07-25 04:02