Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons has reached an incredible milestone, officially becoming the best-selling physical game in Japanese history. With over 8 million physical copies sold, the 2020 social simulation game has surpassed the legendary Pokémon Red/Green, which previously held the record with 7.93 million units sold.
The record sales of Animal Crossing: New Horizons have dethroned Pokémon Red/Green, the original role-playing games released in 1996 for the game Boy by game Freak. These iconic titles helped launch the Pokémon franchise into a global phenomenon and topped Japanese sales charts for decades. Despite its enduring popularity, New Horizons’ release during the COVID-19 pandemic and its familiar gameplay helped it surpass even the most nostalgic favorites.
Nintendo has yet to announce a successor to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but with a new Nintendo Switch console on the horizon, they may have plans to capitalize on the game‘s popularity. Like Super Mario Odyssey, they could release a new game alongside the Switch 2, which is rumored to be announced in early 2025 and should launch shortly after.
While Pokémon Red and Green were a huge success in Japan, their sales were eventually surpassed by Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This achievement is notable because it only counts physical game sales, which are becoming less common as digital sales increase.
