[Japan] Famitsu sales for CY 2021 (Dec. 28, 2020 – Dec. 26, 2021) [Top 100]

Famitsu have shared their latest report about the video games market in Japan, this time covering the full 2021 Calendar Year (December 28th 2020 to December 26th 2021 to be precise, so 52 weeks in total).

First, some raw data. Total sales in 2021 reached 3 613.9 billion Yen, which is slightly worse than last year (3 673.8 billion Yen). Hardware sales did increase, but Software sales took a rather noticeable hit; it’s not like you can have a mega hit like Animal Crossing: New Horizons every year, after all!

+-------+------------+------------+
|       |  This CY   |  Last CY   |
+-------+------------+------------+
|  H-W  |    202.870 |    185.660 |
|  S-W  |    158.520 |    181.720 |
|  TOT  |    361.390 |    367.380 |
+-------+------------+------------+

Software-wise, Monster Hunter Rise was the best-selling game at retail, with Pokémon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl close behind. Those two games and Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban! are the only million-sellers this year. Konami’s surprise hit enjoyed strong and steady sales throughout the year, and even managed to sell more in 2021 than during its launch year (1 266 477 units vs 1 233 000 units)!

Two games did come close to the 1 million milestone: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (971 418 units sold) and Ring Fit Adventure (904 685 units sold). And speaking of milestones, Animal Crossing: New Horizons finally reached 7 million units sold at retail alone!

As for Mario Party Superstars, it’s off to a great start with 628 538 units sold in barely two months. Unless sales considerably slow down in 2022, it should be able to outsell its predecessor when all is said and done.

01./00. [NSW] Monster Hunter Rise # <ACT> (Capcom) {2021.03.26} (¥7.990) – 2.350.693 / NEW
02./00. [NSW] Pokemon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2021.11.19} (¥5.980) – 2.313.115 / NEW
03./03. [NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban! <TBL> (Konami) {2020.11.19} (¥6.300) – 1.266.477 / 2.499.500 (+3%)
04./00. [NSW] Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury <ACT> (Nintendo) {2021.02.12} (¥5.980) – 971.418 / NEW
05./02. [NSW] Ring Fit Adventure # <HOB> (Nintendo) {2019.10.18} (¥7.980) – 904.685 / 2.991.690 (-43%)
06./06. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe <RCE> (Nintendo) {2017.04.28} (¥5.980) – 815.174 / 4.272.357 (+2%)
07./08. [NSW] Minecraft # <ADV> (Microsoft Game Studios) {2018.06.21} (¥3.600) – 708.670 / 2.411.591 (+27%)
08./01. [NSW] Animal Crossing: New Horizons # <ETC> (Nintendo) {2020.03.20} (¥5.980) – 704.134 / 7.082.237 (-89%)
09./00. [NSW] Mario Party Superstars <ETC> (Nintendo) {2021.10.29} (¥5.980) – 628.538 / NEW
10./07. [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate # <FTG> (Nintendo) {2018.12.07} (¥7.200) – 610.964 / 4.624.138 (+9%)
11./05. [NSW] Pokemon Sword / Shield # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2019.11.15} (¥5.980) – 381.848 / 4.262.438 (-57%)
12./09. [NSW] Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics <TBL> (Nintendo) {2020.06.05} (¥3.980) – 352.133 / 871.782 (-32%)
13./00. [NSW] Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town <SLG> (Marvelous) {2021.02.25} (¥5.980) – 318.331 / NEW
14./00. [NSW] New Pokemon Snap <ACT> (Pokemon Co.) {2021.04.30} (¥5.980) – 312.931 / NEW
15./11. [NSW] Super Mario Party # <ETC> (Nintendo) {2018.10.05} (¥5.980) – 306.590 / 2.036.386 (-34%)
16./13. [NSW] Splatoon 2 # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.07.21} (¥5.980) – 305.016 / 3.993.405 (-30%)
17./00. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD <ADV> (Nintendo) {2021.07.16} (¥5.980) – 278.747 / NEW
18./00. [NSW] Miitopia <SLG> (Nintendo) {2021.05.21} (¥4.980) – 274.912 / NEW
19./00. [NSW] Game Builder Garage <EDU> (Nintendo) {2021.06.11} (¥3.164) – 274.221 / NEW
20./00. [NSW] Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin <RPG> (Capcom) {2021.07.09} (¥6.990) – 242.876 / NEW
21./00. [NSW] eBaseball Professional Baseball Spirits 2021: Grand Slam <SPT> (Konami) {2021.07.08} (¥6.980) – 223.833 / NEW
22./00. [PS4] Tales of Arise # <RPG> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2021.09.09} (¥7.980) – 220.122 / NEW
23./00. [PS4] Resident Evil Village # <ADV> (Capcom) {2021.05.08} (¥7.990) – 206.312 / NEW
24./00. [NSW] Crayon Shin-chan: Ora to Hakase no Natsuyasumi – Owaranai Nanokakan no Tabi # <ADV> (Neos) {2021.07.15} (¥5.982) – 199.646 / NEW
25./00. [NSW] Mario Golf: Super Rush <SPT> (Nintendo) {2021.06.25} (¥5.980) – 198.426 / NEW
26./00. [NSW] Shin Megami Tensei V # <RPG> (Atlus) {2021.11.11} (¥8.980) – 192.518 / NEW
27./00. [NSW] WarioWare: Get It Together! <ETC> (Nintendo) {2021.09.10} (¥4.980) – 187.423 / NEW
28./22. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild # <ADV> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥6.980) – 181.037 / 1.909.074 (-27%)
29./00. [PS4] NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… <RPG> (Square Enix) {2021.04.22} (¥7.800) – 175.792 / NEW
30./00. [PS4] Lost Judgment <ADV> (Sega) {2021.09.24} (¥8.290) – 163.607 / NEW
31./00. [NSW] Big Brain Academy: Brain Vs. Brain <HOB> (Nintendo) {2021.12.03} (¥2.980) – 155.023 / NEW
32./00. [PS4] Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles # <FTG> (Aniplex) {2021.10.14} (¥7.600) – 150.560 / NEW
33./23. [NSW] New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe <New Super Mario Bros. U \ New Super Luigi U> <ACT> (Nintendo) {2019.01.11} (¥5.980) – 145.871 / 1.129.729 (-38%)
34./00. [NSW] Bravely Default II <RPG> (Square Enix) {2021.02.26} (¥6.800) – 144.614 / NEW
35./00. [NSW] Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel: Dawn of the Battle Royale!! <TBL> (Konami) {2021.08.12} (¥6.000) – 142.161 / NEW
36./00. [NSW] Rune Factory 5 # <SLG> (Marvelous) {2021.05.20} (¥6.980) – 140.391 / NEW
37./00. [NSW] Metroid Dread # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2021.10.08} (¥6.980) – 140.330 / NEW
38./24. [NSW] Super Mario Maker 2 # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2019.06.28} (¥5.980) – 139.980 / 1.174.861 (-40%)
39./12. [NSW] Pikmin 3 Deluxe <ACT> (Nintendo) {2020.10.30} (¥5.980) – 139.146 / 601.952 (-70%)
40./00. [NSW] Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise # <HOB> (Imagineer) {2020.12.03} (¥5.800) – 134.919 / 167.714
41./00. [NSW] Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition [New Price Edition] <RPG> (Square Enix) {2020.12.04} (¥4.980) – 132.247 / 165.686
42./51. [NSW] Human: Fall Flat <ADV> (Teyon Japan) {2020.06.25} (¥3.500) – 126.373 / 213.813 (+45%)
43./41. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.10.27} (¥5.980) – 125.450 / 2.301.495 (-2%)
44./10. [NSW] Super Mario 3D All-Stars <Super Mario 64 \ Super Mario Sunshine \ Super Mario Galaxy> <ACT> (Nintendo) {2020.09.18} (¥6.480) – 119.330 / 611.950 (-76%)
45./40. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! <ACT> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2018.07.19} (¥6.100) – 116.296 / 670.856 (-13%)
46./27. [NSW] Fishing Spirits: Nintendo Switch Version # <SPT> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2019.07.25} (¥5.700) – 113.231 / 657.698 (-45%)
47./00. [NSW] Super Robot Wars 30 # <SLG> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2021.10.28} (¥8.600) – 96.094 / NEW
48./00. [NSW] Little Nightmares II <ADV> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2021.02.10} (¥3.600) – 95.018 / NEW
49./00. [NSW] Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon # <ADV> (Aniplex) {2021.08.26} (¥7.000) – 94.462 / NEW
50./00. [NSW] Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakens Set <RPG> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2021.09.22} (¥6.680) – 92.054 / NEW
51./00. [PS4] Samurai Warriors 5 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2021.06.24} (¥7.800) – 91.348 / NEW
52./26. [NSW] Luigi’s Mansion 3 <ACT> (Nintendo) {2019.10.31} (¥5.980) – 90.346 / 815.317 (-59%)
53./00. [PS4] Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon # <ADV> (Aniplex) {2021.08.26} (¥7.000) – 85.877 / NEW
54./00. [NSW] The Battle Cats Unite! <SLG> (Ponos) {2020.12.03} (¥2.200) – 85.395 / 101.998
55./55. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.03.16} (¥5.980) – 84.278 / 948.200 (+5%)
56./00. [NSW] Samurai Warriors 5 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2021.06.24} (¥7.800) – 82.104 / NEW
57./74. [NSW] Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 <PZL> (Sega) {2020.12.10} (¥4.990) – 80.397 / 136.803 (+43%)
58./16. [NSW] Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2020.11.20} (¥7.200) – 80.007 / 384.970 (-74%)
59./00. [PS4] Super Robot Wars 30 # <SLG> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2021.10.28} (¥8.600) – 78.531 / NEW
60./52. [NSW] Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin # <SLG> (Marvelous) {2020.11.12} (¥4.980) – 77.418 / 162.232 (-9%)
61./00. [PS5] Resident Evil Village # <ADV> (Capcom) {2021.05.08} (¥7.990) – 74.644 / NEW
62./57. [NSW] Minecraft Dungeons: Hero Edition <RPG> (Microsoft Game Studios) {2020.09.08} (¥3.600) – 73.996 / 150.780 (-4%)
63./19. [NSW] eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020 <SPT> (Konami) {2020.07.09} (¥6.980) – 67.977 / 337.625 (-75%)
64./00. [PS5] Tales of Arise # <RPG> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2021.09.09} (¥7.980) – 65.292 / NEW
65./15. [NSW] Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch <HOB> (Nintendo) {2019.12.27} (¥3.480) – 64.249 / 407.990 (-79%)
66./00. [PS4] Judgment [2][New Price Edition] <ADV> (Sega) {2021.04.23} (¥1.800) – 63.650 / NEW
67./00. [PS4] The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Dark # <RPG> (Nihon Falcom) {2021.09.30} (¥7.800) – 62.640 / NEW
68./00. [PS4] Far Cry 6 # <ACT> (Ubisoft) {2021.10.07} (¥8.400) – 57.283 / NEW
69./63. [NSW] Super Bomberman R [Smile Price Collection] <ACT> (Konami) {2018.11.29} (¥2.760) – 57.189 / 184.645 (-12%)
70./00. [PS4] Call of Duty: Vanguard <ACT> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2021.11.05} (¥7.900) – 55.708 / NEW
71./31. [NSW] Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020 <SPT> (Sega) {2019.11.01} (¥5.990) – 55.321 / 417.860 (-67%)
72./00. [NSW] Apex Legends: Champion Edition <ACT> (Electronic Arts) {2021.03.18} (¥3.909) – 54.816 / NEW
73./35. [NSW] Pokemon Sword / Shield + Expansion Pass <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2020.11.06} (¥8.689) – 54.178 / 202.476 (-63%)
74./00. [PS4] FIFA 22 <SPT> (Electronic Arts) {2021.10.01} (¥7.909) – 54.074 / NEW
75./00. [NSW] FIFA 22: Legacy Edition <SPT> (Electronic Arts) {2021.10.01} (¥3.909) – 51.764 / NEW
76./00. [NSW] Family Trainer <HOB> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2020.12.17} (¥4.980) – 50.264 / 70.503
77./75. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythmic Adventure Pack <Taiko no Tatsujin: Don and Katsu’s Great Time Adventure \ Taiko no Tatsujin: Dokodon! Mystery Adventure> <ACT> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2020.11.26} (¥6.100) – 48.221 / 100.842 (-8%)
78./00. [NSW] Fortnite: Minty Legends Pack <ACT> (Epic Games) {2021.11.02} (¥3.000) – 47.799 / NEW
79./00. [NSW] Densha de Go!! Hashirou Yamanotesen <SLG> (Square Enix) {2021.03.18} (¥5.800) – 45.331 / NEW
80./53. [PS4] Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition <Grand Theft Auto V \ Grand Theft Auto Online> [2][Reprint] <ACT> (Take-Two Interactive Japan) {2019.11.07} (¥3.500) – 45.279 / 135.875 (-46%)
81./43. [NSW] Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit – Mario Set / Luigi Set <RCE> (Nintendo) {2020.10.16} (¥9.980) – 44.204 / 170.954 (-65%)
82./00. [NSW] Splatoon 2 + Octo Expansion <ACT> (Nintendo) {2021.10.08} (¥6.345) – 44.127 / NEW
83./00. [PS5] Lost Judgment <ADV> (Sega) {2021.09.24} (¥8.290) – 42.743 / NEW
84./17. [NSW] Paper Mario: The Origami King <ADV> (Nintendo) {2020.07.17} (¥5.980) – 42.389 / 337.086 (-86%)
85./00. [PS4] Battlefield 2042 <ACT> (Electronic Arts) {2021.11.19} (¥7.909) – 40.707 / NEW
86./86. [PS4] Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2020.12.04} (¥4.980) – 40.003 / 84.714 (-11%)
87./00. [NSW] Power Pro Kun Pocket R <SLG> (Konami) {2021.11.25} (¥5.450) – 39.383 / NEW
88./00. [PS4] Scarlet Nexus <RPG> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2021.06.24} (¥8.200) – 38.916 / NEW
89./00. [NSW] Minecraft Dungeons: Ultimate Edition <ADV> (Microsoft Game Studios) {2021.10.26} (¥4.800) – 37.425 / NEW
90./00. [NSW] Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water <ADV> (Koei Tecmo) {2021.10.28} (¥4.800) – 37.274 / NEW
91./46. [NSW] Derby Stallion <SLG> (Game Addict) {2020.12.03} (¥7.800) – 36.702 / 145.272 (-66%)
92./00. [NSW] Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition <ETC> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2021.12.02} (¥4.980) – 36.352 / NEW
93./00. [PS4] Biomutant <RPG> (THQ Nordic Japan) {2021.05.25} (¥6.900) – 35.948 / NEW
94./00. [PS4] Little Nightmares II <ADV> (Bandai Namco Entertainment) {2021.02.10} (¥3.600) – 35.414 / NEW
95./92. [NSW] FIFA 21: Legacy Edition <SPT> (Electronic Arts) {2020.10.09} (¥5.091) – 35.414 / 75.550 (-12%)
96./87. [PS4] Minecraft: Starter Collection <ADV> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2020.01.16} (¥3.600) – 34.389 / 78.324 (-22%)
97./00. [NSW] Danganronpa Decadence + Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp <Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc – Anniversary Edition \ Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair – Anniversary Edition \ Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony – Anniversary Edition \ Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp> <ADV> (Spike Chunsoft) {2021.11.04} (¥4.980) – 34.229 / NEW
98./00. [NSW] Moshikashite? Obake no Shatekiya for Nintendo Switch <ACT> (Nippon Columbia) {2021.07.01} (¥4.800) – 34.089 / NEW
99./00. [PS5] Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales # <ADV> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2020.11.12} (¥5.900) – 34.016 / 66.238
100./00. [PS5] Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade <RPG> (Square Enix) {2021.06.10} (¥8.980) – 34.012 / NEW

As you can see, the Nintendo Switch grabbed all spots in the Top 10 Software this year thanks to strong new releases and the equally strong evergreen titles. The rest of the Top 100 Software is also dominated by Nintendo’s console, which grabbed 3/4 of all spots and left only 25 spots for the PlayStation 4 (20 games) and PlayStation 5 (5 games).

NSW – 75
PS4 – 20
PS5 – 5

Hardware-wise, the Nintendo Switch had another strong year with over 5 million units sold for the second year in a row (5 579 127 units to be precise). One wouldn’t think the console has already sold over 20 million units since launch, for its popularity remains unusually high for such an old platform.

Unfortunately, the launch of the OLED model wasn’t quite enough to compensate for the massive impact Animal Crossing: New Horizons had on sales last year. Still, the Nintendo Switch had a great year, and the drop Year on Year is not as big as one might have expected. It was the top-selling platform in Japan for the 5th year in a row.

2022 will most definitely see another drop in sales, but it remains to be seen how big that drop will be. Nintendo do seem to have a strong line-up for that year (Splatoon 3, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, etc.), with most of it is still to be revealed. The company also has some tricks up its sleeves to boost Hardware sales (bundles, price drops), not to mention the recently released OLED model.

+-------+------------+------------+-------------+
|System |   This CY  |   Last CY  |     LTD     |
+-------+------------+------------+-------------+
| NSW # |  5.579.127 |  5.956.943 |  22.919.501 |
| PS5 # |    968.185 |    255.150 |   1.223.335 |
| PS4 # |    104.054 |    542.647 |   9.394.944 |
| XBS # |     97.234 |     31.424 |     128.658 |
| 3DS # |     28.856 |     62.761 |  24.587.764 |
+-------+------------+------------+-------------+
|  ALL  |  6.777.456 |  6.852.510 |  58.254.202 |
+-------+------------+------------+-------------+
|  PS5  |    822.504 |    206.622 |   1.029.126 |
| PS5DE |    145.681 |     48.528 |     194.209 |
| XBS X |     48.415 |     24.876 |      73.291 |
| XBS S |     48.819 |      6.548 |      55.367 |
|NSWOLED|    772.128 |            |     772.128 |
| NSW L |  1.338.692 |  2.026.709 |   4.410.784 |
|  NSW  |  3.468.307 |  3.930.234 |  17.736.589 |
|PS4 Pro|        224 |    180.529 |   1.575.723 |
|  PS4  |    103.830 |    362.118 |   7.819.221 |
|n-2DSLL|     28.540 |     59.717 |   1.192.503 |
|  2DS  |        316 |            |             |
+-------+------------+------------+-------------+

Click here for more Japanese sales data!

Source: Famitsu / Famitsu
Data compiled by: MarcoP90 (Install Base) / Chris1964 (Install Base)