Nintendo Best-Selling Consoles Ranked (2024 Update)
The Nintendo Switch continues its historic run, cementing its place as one of the most successful video game platforms ever created. With each financial report, the hybrid console creeps closer to legendary status, fueling conversations about where it will ultimately land among Nintendo's all-time greats. While the industry eagerly awaits news of a successor, the current Switch model is still posting staggering numbers, surpassing 141 million units sold worldwide as of early 2024.
This incredible success story puts it in elite company, chasing down the top spot in Nintendo's own hardware hall of fame. From the 8-bit revolution of the NES to the dual-screen dominance of the DS, Nintendo has a rich history of creating iconic hardware that captures the imagination of millions. Join us as we explore the official sales hierarchy and rank the top 12 best-selling Nintendo platforms of all time.
The Official Nintendo Hardware Power Rankings
Here are the definitive rankings of Nintendo's most successful hardware platforms, based on official worldwide sales data.
1. Nintendo DS Family (154.02 million units)
The undisputed champion of Nintendo's lineup remains the Nintendo DS. Its innovative dual-screen setup, touchscreen controls, and backward compatibility with Game Boy Advance titles created a perfect storm of accessibility and depth. With a massive library that included everything from Nintendogs and Brain Age to New Super Mario Bros. and Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, the DS family (including the DS, DS Lite, DSi, and DSi XL) appealed to every demographic imaginable.
2. Nintendo Switch (141.32 million units and counting)
The current king is on a mission to claim the crown. The Switch’s revolutionary hybrid design—allowing players to seamlessly transition from TV to handheld gaming—changed the game. Bolstered by a library of critically acclaimed masterpieces like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the Switch has maintained incredible momentum for over seven years and shows few signs of slowing down.
3. Game Boy & Game Boy Color (118.69 million units)
The platform that made portable gaming a global phenomenon. The original Game Boy was a cultural icon, a durable and beloved device that brought gaming to the school bus, the backseat of the car, and everywhere in between. The launch of Pokémon Red & Blue turned it from a hit into a legend. The later addition of the Game Boy Color refreshed the system and extended its already incredible lifespan.
4. Wii (101.63 million units)
Nintendo redefined the market with the Wii. By focusing on intuitive motion controls with the Wii Remote, the company attracted a massive "blue ocean" audience of casual players and families who had never picked up a controller before. Games like Wii Sports, which was bundled with the console in most regions, became a social event and a mainstream media sensation, proving that fun, accessible gameplay could outsell raw graphical power.
5. Game Boy Advance Family (81.51 million units)
The worthy successor to the Game Boy throne, the Game Boy Advance (GBA) brought 16-bit and 32-bit style graphics to the palm of your hand. It was home to an incredible library of original titles and stellar ports of SNES classics. The platform's evolution, including the sleeker GBA SP with its clamshell design and backlit screen, kept it at the top of the handheld market for years.
6. Nintendo 3DS Family (75.94 million units)
Building on the success of the DS, the 3DS added glasses-free stereoscopic 3D to the mix. While the 3D feature was a novelty for some, the console's true strength was its phenomenal software library. It became a powerhouse for beloved franchises like Pokémon, Fire Emblem, and Animal Crossing, and its StreetPass feature created a unique and memorable social experience.
7. Nintendo Entertainment System / NES (61.91 million units)
The one that started it all for so many. The NES single-handedly revitalized the video game industry in the mid-1980s. It introduced the world to iconic characters and franchises like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid. Its classic controller and library of unforgettable games established the foundation for console gaming as we know it today.
8. Super Nintendo Entertainment System / SNES (49.10 million units)
A masterclass in 16-bit game design, the SNES is often regarded as one of the greatest consoles ever made. It improved upon its predecessor in every way, delivering richer graphics, more complex audio, and a library filled with timeless classics like Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Super Mario World.
9. Nintendo 64 (32.93 million units)
The N64 ushered Nintendo and its iconic franchises into the world of 3D. While its sales were lower than its main competitor at the time, its cultural impact was immeasurable. The innovative analog stick on its three-pronged controller set a new standard for 3D movement, and games like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are still considered benchmarks for game design.
10. Nintendo GameCube (21.74 million units)
Quirky, powerful, and beloved by a dedicated fanbase, the GameCube was a fantastic console that struggled to find a massive audience. Its compact design and unique mini-disc format set it apart, but it was the incredible quality of its first-party games—Metroid Prime, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and The Wind Waker—that cemented its legacy as an underrated classic.
11. Wii U (13.56 million units)
The direct predecessor to the Switch, the Wii U was a commercial disappointment that laid the groundwork for future success. Its core concept of "asymmetric gaming" with the GamePad controller didn't resonate with the public, leading to consumer confusion. However, it was a testing ground for the hybrid console idea and was home to fantastic games like Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon, many of which found a much larger audience when ported to the Switch.
12. Color TV-Game (3 million units)
The oldest entry on the list, the Color TV-Game series was Nintendo's first foray into home video game consoles, released only in Japan between 1977 and 1980. These were dedicated consoles that played variations of a single game, most famously "Light Tennis" (a version of Pong). It was a crucial first step that led Nintendo down the path to becoming the giant it is today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the best-selling Nintendo console of all time?
A: The Nintendo DS family (including the DS, DS Lite, and DSi models) is the best-selling Nintendo platform of all time, with 154.02 million units sold worldwide.
Q: How many units has the Nintendo Switch sold?
A: As of the last official report from Nintendo in early 2024, the Nintendo Switch family of systems has sold over 141.32 million units worldwide, making it the second best-selling Nintendo console ever.
Q: What was Nintendo's worst-selling console?
A: Excluding very early and limited hardware, the Virtual Boy is widely considered Nintendo's biggest commercial console failure, selling less than a million units worldwide. The Wii U is the lowest-selling home console on this top-12 list.
Q: Can the Nintendo Switch become the best-selling console ever?
A: It is very possible. The Nintendo Switch has already surpassed the lifetime sales of the Wii and Game Boy. It only needs to sell approximately 13 million more units to pass the Nintendo DS and become Nintendo's all-time best-seller.