Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Super Mario 3D Land sells 5 million, Skyward Sword 3.4 million

Nintendo's April-December sales recap reveals Mario Kart 7 sold 4.54 million, 3DS logs 3 million-unit sellers; Mario Kart Wii tops 30 million lifetime-to-date.

Nintendo may have failed to hit its sales expectations for the 3DS, but the device isn't without its success stories. As part of Nintendo's postearnings information dump, the publisher revealed three first-party games that easily topped the million-unit sales milestone.

Skyward Sword was the Wii's third-best-selling game from April-December.

Skyward Sword was the Wii's third-best-selling game from April-December.

Super Mario 3D Land topped the 3DS's sales charts through December, selling 5.03 million units worldwide. The portly plumber's latest outing arrived to a solid critical reception in November. December's Mario Kart 7 posted a close second with 4.54 million units sold, while June's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D sold 2.49 million units.

On the Wii, Nintendo saw a strong performance from Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Launched in late November, Link's latest action adventure sold 3.42 million units through December. That figure was good enough for a third-place finish on the Wii chart, behind Mario Kart Wii (4.91 million) and New Super Mario Bros. Wii (3.53 million).

Turning to the DS, Pokemon White/Black continued to put in solid numbers, topping the handheld's chart with a combined 2.91 million units sold. New Super Mario Bros. and Mario Kart DS followed, with 1.87 million units and 1.26 million units sold, respectively.

A full list of Nintendo's million-unit sellers for the April-December period, as well as those games' lifetime-to-date tallies, can be found below.

3DS
Title / 2011 sales/ LTD sales
Super Mario 3D Land / 5.03 million / 5.03 million
Mario Kart 7 / 4.54 million / 4.54 million
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D / 2.49 million / 2.49 million

Wii
Title / 2011 sales/ LTD sales
Mario Kart Wii / 4.91 million / 31.91 million
New Super Mario Bros. Wii / 3.53 million / 25.47 million
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword / 3.42 million / 3.42 million
Wii Sports / 2.4 million / 79.16 million
Wii Sports Resort / 2.19 million / 29.87 million
Wii Party / 1.91 million / 7.68 million
Wii Fit Plus / 1.75 million / 20.24 million
Kirby's Return to Dream Land / 1.21 million / 1.21 million
Wii Play: Motion / 1.12 million / 1.12 million
Super Mario Galaxy / 1.09 million / 10.4 million

DS family
Title / 2011 sales/ LTD sales
Pokemon Black & White / 2.91 million / 14.42 million
New Super Mario Bros. / 1.87 million / 28.74 million
Mario Kart DS / 1.26 million / 22.30 million
*Professor Layton and the Last Specter / 1.19 million / 1.19 million
Kirby Mass Attack / 1.01 million / 1.01 million

*Sales figures do not include Japan.

46 Comments

  • nima_metal90

    Posted Feb 1, 2012 12:36 pm GMT

    MARIO WANTED!!!!!

  • Wormkid_64

    Posted Feb 1, 2012 4:38 am GMT

    @yoyou225

    They need to make a gold dollar with Mario on one side,and Luigi,Yoshi,or Peach on the other.

  • yoyou225

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 6:24 pm GMT

    Well, looks like Mario still prints money. As he should.

  • da_chub

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 5:56 pm GMT

    So much hate towards such a great game. Zelda story hasnt changed for years because all that matters is its good vs evil. SS was a major step in how we play a video game, not to mention it was a great zelda game. i wish i could get SS controls on every other 3d zelda game.

  • xxxchris

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 6:28 pm GMT

    I enjoyed Skyward Sword. Alot actually; much more linear, but no less fun and intriguing story wise. Although I can easily see your faults with the game.

  • Jesushazluv posted Jan 30, 2012 9:35 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Jesushazluv

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 9:35 am GMT (hide)

    @gc88: Indeed, it is Skyward Snore.

  • Wolflink001

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 8:33 am GMT

    I know I'm somewhere in that 3.4 million! lol!

  • gc88 posted Jan 30, 2012 6:38 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    gc88

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 6:38 am GMT (hide)

    Skyward Snore

  • nintendoboy16

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 4:38 am GMT

    And keep in mind, I was happy about the sales, I just remember a lot of people saying they weren't going to buy Nintendo's stuff anymore after when NoA said they have no plans of localizing those games.

  • Superzone

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 12:27 am GMT

    I'm proud to say I contributed to the Mario Kart 7 and Mario 3D Land sales, but I am absolutely embarrassed to say that I have not yet purchased Skyward Sword. I need to get that very soon.

  • theKSMM

    Posted Jan 29, 2012 1:48 pm GMT

    Good grief! Those Mario titles are like having a money printing press! I understand what they mean by "evergreen" now.

  • ar6ra6sh9

    Posted Jan 29, 2012 1:07 am GMT

    WOW!!!! nintendo really rocked the show!!!

  • godzillavskong

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 8:56 pm GMT

    Quick, everyone donate $1 to my Paypal acct. so I can get this game!!! lol I wish. Christmas broke me but I do want to get Skyward Swords bad! Maybe in the next few weeks.

  • Halloll

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 8:46 pm GMT

    Skyward sword, my personal game of the year.

  • renji4eva

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 12:29 pm GMT

    What mario sells well?! What a shocker![saracasm]

  • fitzokoli

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 11:44 am GMT

    Amazing.

  • franzito

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 10:52 am GMT

    Zelda and Mario ALWAYS sell good when it comes to tradition. I mean, as long as Mario keeps up with side scrolling and Link saves Zelda, there's nothing to go wrong with.

  • beny_pimpster

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 5:37 am GMT

    hoho now thats what im talkin about

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 2:26 am GMT

    @MachShot

    Thats funny because screwattack took a survey for best games released in 2011 and (Skyrim) was second wanna bet which one was first.

  • nintendoboy16

    Posted Jan 28, 2012 12:55 am GMT

    Hmm. Skyward Sword sold better than I thought. I thought it was going to fail after the boycott that was called once Nintendo stated they had no plans of localizing Xenoblade (which IS coming out in April), Last Story, and Pandora's Tower to the US.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 10:49 pm GMT

    Skyward Sword was great fun, keep the greatness coming Nintendo

  • dxBIGBOSSxb

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 10:16 pm GMT

    I'm not a Zelda fan, but hey. Good job guys. I may prefer Skyrim, but my best friend Drew loves Zelda games with a passion and good sales is good news for him. I'd rather see him happy than debate which is a better game.

  • dxdevilex0

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 7:15 pm GMT

    I wonder why SMG sold more than SMG2...though maybe it's because it's cheaper.And good to know that I'm one of the millions who bought all SM3DL,MK7,Skyward Sword,MKWii and Pokemon B&W.

  • Nzilla

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 6:58 pm GMT

    Loved to dust off my Wii and play Skyward sword. Too bad awesome hardcore games like this are few and far between these days. Expecting this to be the last Wii title I buy (before Wii U comes out)

  • moviequest14

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 4:19 pm GMT

    @MachShot : Thank you kindly..I was wondering when the Skyrim trolling comment would come up!

  • moviequest14

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 4:18 pm GMT

    I suppose now would be a good time to boast about how Mario and Zelda are dead?

  • Flint247

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 3:42 pm GMT

    Go Nintendo. Take note, other companies!

  • Master_Turismo

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 2:07 pm GMT

    Glad to be a part of that 3.4 million.

  • Sniper-Gamer

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 1:33 pm GMT

    I expected Skyward Sword to do better than that. I think the problem with Skyward Sword is because it is on the Wii. Not many core gamers play the Wii if they own one at all. I do and I'm loving Skyward Sword but it's sad to see the core gamers leave Nintendo. Will love to see the Wii U bring gamers back.

    And of course Mario does great again. Accessible and fun, the series has and always will be amazing.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 1:32 pm GMT

    @Dumachum

    Thankfully not everyone in the world is as massively narrow minded as others.Not saying who.But honestly, Mario Kart isn't a real game?Shows your general ignorance.

  • barren167

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 12:54 pm GMT

    After (I think) four years of hype, Skyward Sword really had to have some fairly big numbers. Good to see that it did.

  • Dumachum posted Jan 27, 2012 12:42 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Dumachum

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 12:42 pm GMT (hide)

    Who the hell is buying this stuff?

    It's easy to put a face on the Call of Duty crowd. Obnoxious idiotic frat boys and 15 year olds. I know a ton of people with PS3's, 360's and the games.

    But who the hell is buying Mario Kart, Wii sports / fit, or any of this non gamer stuff much less the 30, 25, and 70 million copies? I don't know or have met a single person with any of these games much less someone with a Wii. Where do Nintendo keep getting these numbers?

  • Soothsayer42

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 12:41 pm GMT

    A lil bit shame most on the list is already out in the past years.

  • MachShot posted Jan 27, 2012 12:05 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    MachShot

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 12:05 pm GMT (hide)

    ...but still can't beat Skyrim for unanimous Game of the Year across the internet communities.

    Pathetic, Nintendo.

  • SaltyMeatballs

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 11:57 am GMT

    Impressive numbers. Bring out the quality games and they will sell themselves. 3DS doing well, doesn't even have a Pokemon game yet (a proper Pokemon game )

  • BloodMist

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 11:35 am GMT

    Gotta love developers like Nintendo, their consistency of excellence is becoming ever a more rare thing all the time.

  • sman3579

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 11:04 am GMT

    Congrats to Nintendo, especially to Mario, Pokemon, and Zelda.

  • WolfGrey posted Jan 27, 2012 10:54 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    WolfGrey

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 10:54 am GMT (hide)

    @Supabal
    Cept as well known at this point, a lot of gamers are quite skeptical of the WiiU. Though it might sell because of the plague that is casual gaming.Just like the Wii.We all know if it wasn't for the casual gamer(soccer moms,families, and so on) the Wii would of done as well as the gamecube. Its motion deal,weight loss,and party games are what saved it. Not something i would ever brag about as a success to the system.

  • ArabrockermanX

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 10:53 am GMT

    @Supabul Dont count on it. The Wii U will perform well but I dont see it topping the Wii's performance.

  • slyfox_28

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 10:31 am GMT

    "In the face"

  • Supabul

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 10:15 am GMT

    @mjc0961, thats why Nintendo only release one Mario Kart for each new system they just keep selling

    Wii U is going to be the biggest selling console of all time

  • mjc0961

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 9:42 am GMT

    Mario Kart DS sold 1.26 million this year?! Holy crap.

  • motang posted Jan 27, 2012 9:27 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    motang

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 9:27 am GMT (hide)

    Those are some hefty numbers! Skyward Sword isn't as good at Twilight Princess, though it is a good game, it could have been better.

  • ekalbtwin

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 9:26 am GMT

    But, but, but the internetz told me Skyward Sword was a sales flop lol.

  • ShadowofSonic

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 8:51 am GMT

    Skyward Sword was a small letdown...
    But Mario 3D land is great!

  • SolidTy

    Posted Jan 27, 2012 8:28 am GMT


    It's wonderful to see great games sell so well. I always hate to hear one of my favorite games sold poorly, or a game company is closing shop due to low sales. That's not happening with Nintendo, thank goodness.

    Look at Super Mario Land 3D (5+ million) and Mario Kart 7 (4+ million) doing so amazing, and they are still not even six months old yet!

    It's no surprise for Zelda : SS for Wii (selling 3+ million so far), it was a long wait for Zelda...I got the Limited edition of SS with Gold Controller+ and Music CD when the game shipped last year for holiday.

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!