Famitsu 2018 Japan video game sales report

Famitsu has published a report of the top 10 highest-selling games and top-selling hardware of 2018 in Japan.

According to the report, software sales were up 108.2 percent in 2018 over the previous year, marking a second consecutive year of growth, whereas hardware sold 84.1 percent of what it did the previous year. Consumers spent approximately 264.21 billion yen (approx. $2.38 billion USD) on software, and 170.09 billion yen (approx. $1.53 billion USD) on hardware. While hardware sales dropped, the numbers are still well above the market scale between 2013 and 2016. As for software, digital sales saw a significant increase, including general online purchases (digital sales, subscriptions, additional charges, etc.).

Get the full sales charts below.

■ 2018 vs. 2017 in Japanese Video Game Sales

• 2018
  • Hardware Sales: 170.09 billion yen
  • Software Sales: 264.21 billion yen
  • Total: 434.3 billion yen
• 2017
  • Hardware Sales: 202.37 billion yen
  • Software Sales: 244.08 billion yen
  • Total: 446.45 billion yen

■ Japan’s Top-Selling Software of 2018

1. Monster Hunter: World
   • Platform: PlayStation 4
   • Publisher: Capcom
   • Release Date: January 26, 2018
   • Estimated Physical Sales: 1,985,886
   • Estimated Digital Sales: 873,898
   • Combined Estimated Physical and Digital Sales: 2,859,784
2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Nintendo
   • Release Date: December 7, 2018
   • Estimated Physical Sales: 2,360,655
   • Estimated Digital Sales: 309,229
   • Combined Estimated Physical and Digital Sales: 2,669,884
3. Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee!
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: The Pokemon Company
   • Release Date: November 16, 2018
   • Estimated Physical Sales: 1,253,677
   • Estimated Digital Sales: 107,945
   • Combined Estimated Physical and Digital Sales: 1,361,622
4. Splatoon 2
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Nintendo
   • Release Date: July 21, 2017
   • Estimated Physical Sales: 1,122,324
   • Estimated Digital Sales: 68,630
   • Combined Estimated Physical and Digital Sales: 1,190,954
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Nintendo
   • Release Date: April 28, 2017
   • Estimated Physical Sales: 926,553
   • Estimated Digital Sales: 76,139
   • Combined Estimated Physical and Digital Sales: 1,002,692
6. Super Mario Party
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Nintendo
   • Release Date: October 5, 2018
   • Estimated Physical Sales: 764,853
   • Estimated Digital Sales: 62,739
   • Combined Estimated Physical and Digital Sales: 827,592
7. Kirby: Star Allies
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Nintendo
   • Release Date: March 16, 2018
   • Estimated Physical Sales: 664,815
   • Estimated Digital Sales: 56,104
   • Combined Estimated Physical and Digital Sales: 720,919
8. Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition
   • Platform: Switch
   • Publisher: Microsoft
   • Release Date: June 21, 2018
   • Estimated Physical Sales: 525,045
   • Estimated Digital Sales: 166,272
   • Combined Estimated Physical and Digital Sales: 691,317
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII
   • Platform: PlayStation 4
   • Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
   • Release Date: October 12, 2018
   • Estimated Physical Sales: 479,511
   • Estimated Digital Sales: 145,458
   • Combined Estimated Physical and Digital Sales: 624,969
10. Super Mario Odyssey
    • Platform: Switch
    • Publisher: Nintendo
    • Release Date: October 27, 2017
    • Estimated Physical Sales: 575,926
    • Estimated Digital Sales: 22,020
    • Combined Estimated Physical and Digital Sales: 597,946

■ Japan’s Top-Selling Hardware of 2018

1. Switch
   • Manufacturer: Nintendo
   • Release Date: March 3, 2017
   • 2018 Estimated Sales: 3,482,388
   • Estimated Total Sales: 6,889,546
2. PlayStation 4 (including PlayStation 4 Pro)
   • Manufacturer: Sony Interactive Entertainment
   • Release Date: February 22, 2014
   • 2018 Estimated Sales: 1,695,227
   • Estimated Total Sales: 7,552,090
3. 3DS (including 3DS XL, New 3DS, New 3DS XL, 2DS, and New 2DS XL)
   • Manufacturer: Nintendo
   • Release Date: February 26, 2011
   • 2018 Estimated Sales: 566,420
   • Estimated Total Sales: 24,304,964
4. PS Vita
   • Manufacturer: Sony Interactive Entertainment
   • Release Date: December 17, 2011
   • 2018 Estimated Sales: 181,728
   • Estimated Total Sales: 5,825,354
5. Xbox One (including Xbox One S and Xbox One X)
   • Manufacturer: Microsoft
   • Release Date: September 4, 2014
   • 2018 Estimated Sales: 15,339
   • Estimated Total Sales: 102,931