Super Mario 3D All-Stars had the best digital launch of any Mario game on the Switch, according to a new report from research analytics firm SuperData. This suggests that some of the collection's more controversial elements, such as its planned removal from the eShop early next year, helped to drive sales.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is one of the biggest ways Nintendo is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. video game. The collection includes Super Mario64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. Although Nintendo modified each game lightly to play on the Switch, Nintendo is still just emulating the original releases.
According to the SuperData report, Super Mario 3D All-Stars sold 1.8 million digital copies in September. This means that the game beat Mario titles like Super Mario Odyssey that were filled with new content, rather than ports of pre-existing games. Although it was only the fourth-highest grossing console game in September, it was the highest-ranking game to be exclusive to one console. This also doesn't account for regional variation in what games are popular. For example, Nintendo dominated Japanese sales charts with Super Mario 3D All-Stars for this time period.Â
To be fair, there are several factors helping Super Mario 3D All-Stars that have nothing to do with the games themselves. For one, the report measures digital sales. The pandemic has boosted digital sales across the board, as gamers look to maintain social distancing. Another factor may be that Nintendo does not intend to ever put Super Mario 3D All-Stars on sale. It's rare for Nintendo to put first-party games on sale, but it does happen. In this case, however, fans cannot wait for the price of Super Mario 3D All-Stars to go down, as the game will simply become unavailable.
Nintendo fans may be displeased to hear about the success of the new collection, as it suggests Nintendo will continue to use the "limited release window" strategy in the future. This is more than just speculation; Nintendo is already employing it for the upcoming re-release of the original Fire Emblem game. Critics might say that this strategy encourages impulse purchases, allowing Nintendo to obtain stronger sales regardless of game quality.
Still, the collection may be a success simply because of the quality of the included games. All three games are widely regarded as some of the best games ever made, so it's no surprise that veterans and newcomers alike would want to experience them on the Switch.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is available now for the Nintendo Switch.
