Mario Kart Just Set a New Record After 17 Years

More than 17 years after it was achieved, Mario Kart World broke a pretty big record, and it’s an impressive feat for the franchise. When Mario Kart World was released on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025, fans flocked to pick up a copy, and it also helped ensure the Switch 2 sold like hotcakes. Since its release, more than nine million copies have been sold, and Mario Kart World has received widespread critical acclaim. The franchise has always done well, but it’s only now that a new Mario Kart title has broken a long-held record.

On December 26, 2025, Pierre485 revealed on X that Mario Kart World had set a significant record, selling 2.5 million units in Japan in just 29 weeks. That makes it the fastest-selling Switch 2 game, the best-selling game of 2025, and the fastest-selling Mario Kart game of all time in the Japanese market. The previous record was set by Mario Kart Wii, which didn’t hit 2.5 million units sold in Japan until crossing the 89-week finish line. That puts Mario Kart World’s rapid success far ahead of its predecessor, and is a leading reason to upgrade to the Switch 2.

Mario Kart World Broke a 17-Year-Old Record

These stats and records are significant, as they’re limited to Japan, which is not only one of the biggest producers of video games but also a massive consumer nation. Seeing as Mario Kart Wii set the record of 2.5 million units sold in 89 weeks, the fact that Mario Kart World did it in only 29 shows just how much the Nintendo Switch 2 and the new entry in the longstanding Nintendo franchise appeal to gamers. The high number of sales is indicative of both an excellent game and an amazing new console, as Mario Kart World is exclusive to the Switch 2.

Collectively, the Mario Kart franchise has sold over 200 million games since the first game launched on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992. Since that game’s release, each subsequent system has featured at least one Mario Kart title, and it’s a significant factor in why players continue to buy Nintendo’s consoles. To date, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch is the best-selling game in the franchise. Since its release in 2017, Nintendo has sold more than 69.5 million copies. Mario Kart Wii is in second place with over 37.3 million copies sold, so Mario Kart World has some catching up to do.

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Still, Mario Kart World is off to an impressive start. As a launch title for the Switch 2, Mario Kart World arrived on June 5, 2025, alongside the console. In a little over six months, Nintendo has sold 9.57 million copies of Mario Kart World, so while it’s far behind the games that have sold tens of millions, given the rate of sales, it’s likely to approach the same numbers as Nintendo’s top sellers. Mario Kart is, after all, one of Nintendo’s best-selling franchises, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon, as Mario Kart World is truly an impressive addition.

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