The Last Stronghold of Boxed Games; Switch Rules on Amazon
Amazon has released its list of best-selling games for 2021. It shows that the Switch is the last stronghold of boxed versions. Games designed for Nintendo's console took as many as nineteen positions in the TOP 20.
Approaching end of the year is, as usual, a good time for all kinds of summaries. Amazon, among others, decided to check what games sold best in its store in the last twelve months. The results may come as a surprise; however, if you've seen the same list from last year, you may notice a trend - boxed versions of Switch-exclusive titles have been added to the bestseller list.
Amazon's bestsellers of 2021
- 1. Super Mario 3D World Bowser's Fury
- 2. Just Dance 2022 (Switch version)
- 3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- 4. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond
- 5. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii remaster)
- 6. Mario Party Superstars
- 7. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- 8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- 9. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (also available on WiiU)
- 10. Metroid Dread
- 11. Pokemon Shining Pearl
- 12. Super Mario Odyssey
- 13. New Pokemon Snap
- 14. Minecraft (Switch version)
- 15. Just Dance 2021 (Switch version)
- 16. Luigi's Mansion 3
- 17. Super Mario Party
- 18. Carnival Games (Switch version)
- 19. Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
- 20. NBA 2K22 (PS4 version)
There are fifteen Switch exclusives in the list above. Only the last, 20th place was taken by a game intended for another platform - NBA 2K22 for PlayStation 4. Three conclusions can be drawn from this.
Firstly, the Switch is incredibly popular; Nintendo's console is this year's best-selling piece of gaming hardware on Amazon - ahead of the second best Xbox S Series, as well as PlayStation 5, Xbox X Series and PlayStation 4. Secondly, the path taken by the owners of the "Big N" - betting on their own brands and releasing them (mostly) exclusively on Switch - turned out to be a bull's eye. Third and finally, boxed editions of video games are still very popular among Switch fans, despite boxes gradually becoming obsolete on competing platforms in favor of digital distribution.
Amazon bestsellers of 2020
- 1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (boxed version)
- 2. Super Mario 3D All-Stars
- 3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- 4. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- 5. Animal Crossing: New Horiz ons (Digital Download)
- 6. Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4 version)
- 7. Ring Fit Adventure
- 8. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
- 9. The Last of Us: Part II
- 10. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
What you see above is the list of the ten best-selling games on Amazon in 2020. It featured two titles from outside the Nintendo catalogue - Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4 version) and The Last of Us: Part 2 - while the other eight productions were Switch exclusives. What's more, only one of them, specifically Animal Crossing: New Horizons enjoyed popularity in both physical and digital versions - other than that, boxes dominated.
It's hard to say what is the reason. Maybe most people just buy a Nintendo console with dedicated games in mind, and hits like Resident Evil Village or Deathloop are purchased on "big" platforms. Nevertheless, Switch is growing to be the last stronghold for traditional game releases and nothing suggests that in 2022 this will change. Whether that's good or bad - judge for yourself.
