Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (MK8D), Nintendo’s biggest racing game for the Switch console, has long been a top seller in the United States, but it has now fallen from the U.S. Top 20 list for the first time in six years. According to market research firm NPD, the game fell out of the Top 20 for the first time since the Switch released in 2017.
The game’s sales had actually been improving in recent months, thanks to the popularity of the Nintendo Switch. It had been back in the U.S. Top 20 from October 2020 to February 2021, but then it suddenly dropped out of the Top 20 again in the last two months. The last time the game was absent from the Top 20 list was back in 2015, when it was released for the Wii U.
The game’s recent sales drop can be attributed to a variety of factors, including competition from newer games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. In addition, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has now been on the market for nearly five years, which may have led to a decline in sales. As such, it is likely that the game will remain outside the U.S. Top 20 in the near future.
Despite Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s recent dip in sales, it remains one of the most popular games on the Nintendo Switch. Over 38 million copies of the game have been sold since its release, making it the fifth-best selling game on the platform. In addition, the game is still remaining popular in other regions, such as Europe and Japan. As such, it is likely that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will continue to be a smash success for Nintendo in the years to come.