Japan's Top 100 Best-Selling Games of 2020 Revealed

Last year was unusual for the video game industry in more ways than one. The COVID-19 pandemic led to many games being delayed, but other games received more attention than they would have otherwise. It has also led to certain platforms growing in popularity, and there's perhaps no better example than in Japan. A recently released list of Japan's top-selling 100 games for 2020 provides insight into one of the most interesting years for video games yet.

Embodying this list and the year of 2020 was the top-seller of the year in Japan: Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch. It sold nearly 6.4 million units in 2020, according to Famitsu, which is almost 5 million more than the runner-up. It's a casual, relaxing game, perfectly suited for the stresses of the pandemic, and the Switch allows users to play on the go or from bed. Add in that Animal Crossing: New Horizons launched as the pandemic really began to spread and it's easy to see why it succeeded.

Number two on the list is also appropriate as symbolic of the times, that being Ring Fit Adventure. It was under such high demand that Ring Fit Adventure was sold out for months toward the start of the pandemic. Many people were looking for an opportunity to exercise from home and Ring Fit Adventure delivered, but who can say whether Ring Fit Adventure would be as successful without the pandemic.

The remaining top 10 hosts a mix of experiences that reveal the diversity of the video game community. The titles include Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban!, a casual railway sim, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Minecraft, Clubhouse Games, and Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Every game except for Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available on the Nintendo Switch.

Further down the list, there are few shifts away from the trends of the top 10. There are a lot of Nintendo Switch games, as well as PS4 games, and almost nothing else. One 3DS game did make the list, which was Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Most every game is a bigger release, but with a larger trend toward casual and all-ages games than in the west.

Even without the pandemic, the Japanese video game market has trended toward the style of games seen in 2020's top-selling list, as well as Nintendo and Sony platforms. The pandemic, at the very least, led many of these games to larger overall support, with Animal Crossing: New Horizons especially standing out.

Here is the full list of the top-selling games in Japan for 2020, according to Famitsu:

1. [NSW] Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 6,378,103 / NEW
2. [NSW] Ring Fit Adventure – 1,591,366 / 2,087,005
3. [NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban! – 1,233,023 / NEW
4. [PS4] Final Fantasy VII Remake – 949,379 / NEW
5. [NSW] Pokemon Sword/Shield – 892,456 / 3,880,590
6. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 798,174 / 3,457,183
7. [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 560,122 / 4,013,174
8. [NSW] Minecraft – 556,982 / 1,702,921
9. [NSW] Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics – 519,649 / NEW
10. [NSW] Super Mario 3D All-Stars – 492,620 / NEW
11. [NSW] Super Mario Party – 466,086 / 1,729,796
12. [NSW] Pikmin 3 Deluxe – 462,806 / NEW
13. [NSW] Splatoon 2 – 435,629 / 3,688,389
14. [PS4] Ghost of Tsushima – 427,071 / NEW
15. [NSW] Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch – 309,045 / 343,741
16. [NSW] Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity – 304,963 / NEW
17. [NSW] Paper Mario: The Origami King – 294,697 / NEW
18. [NSW] Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX – 279,162 / NEW
19. [NSW] eBaseball Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2020 – 269,648 / NEW
20. [PS4] Resident Evil 3 – 269,187 / NEW
21. [PS4] Yakuza: Like a Dragon – 263,255 / NEW
22. [NSW] Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 246,888 / 1,728,037
23. [NSW] New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – 236,269 / 983,858
24. [NSW] Super Mario Maker 2 – 234,377 / 1,034,881
25. [PS4] The Last of Us Part II – 233,273 / NEW
26. [NSW] Luigi’s Mansion 3 – 218,973 / 724,971
27. [NSW] Fishing Spirits Nintendo Switch Version – 207,472 / 544,467
28. [PS4] eBaseball Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2020 – 189,649
29. [PS4] Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost On – 168,710 / NEW
30. [PS4] Nioh 2 – 167,599 / NEW
31. [NSW] Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – 167,411 / 342,539
32. [PS4] Persona 5 Strikers – 164,962 / NEW
33. [PS4] Dragon Ball Z Kakarot – 163,029 / NEW
34. [PS4] Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – 150,964
35. [NSW] Pokemon Sword/Shield + Expansion Pass – 148,298 / NEW
36. [PS4] Trials of Mana – 142,979 / NEW
37. [NSW] Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – 142,710 / NEW
38. [PS4] One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 – 142,670 / NEW
39. [NSW] One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 – 137,513 / NEW
40. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! – 133,978 / 554,560
41. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey – 128,499 / 2,176,045
42. [PS4] Granblue Fantasy Versus – 127,566 / NEW
43. [NSW] Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit – 126,750 / NEW
44. [PS4] Cyberpunk 2077 – 115,813 / NEW
45. [NSW] Trials of Mana – 112,277 / NEW
46. [NSW] Derby Stallion – 108,570 / NEW
47. [PS4] The Legend of Heroes: Hajimari no Kiseki – 104,067 / NEW
48. [NSW] Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega Mix – 97,056 / NEW
49. [NSW] Dragon Quest XI S – 95,802 / 559,501
50. [PS4] Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris – 94,681 / NEW
51. [NSW] Human: Fall Flat – 87,440 / NEW
52. [NSW] Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin – 84,814 / NEW
53. [PS4] Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition – 83,879 / 90,596
54. [NSW] Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu / Eevee – 82,046 / 1,767,352
55. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies – 80,048 / 863,922
56. [NSW] Persona 5 Strikers – 79,250 / NEW
57. [NSW] Minecraft Dungeons Hero Edition – 76,784 / NEW
58. [NSW] Fitness Boxing – 76,696 / 141,889
59. [PS4] Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition – 74,158 / 491,620
60. [PS4] Marvel’s Avengers – 72,758 / NEW
61. [NSW] Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster – 68,280 / NEW
62. [PS4] The Last of Us Remastered (PlayStation Hits) – 67,718 / 120,854
63. [NSW] Super Bomberman R: Smile Price Collection – 65,234 / 127,456
64. [NSW] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition – 64,687 / NEW
65. [PS4] eFootball PES 2021 Season Update – 64,218 / NEW
66. [PS4] Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster – 62,11 / NEW
67. [NSW] Fortnite Last Laugh Bundle – 62,041 / NEW
68. [PS4] Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – 61,345 / NEW
69. [NSW] Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate Best Price – 61,184 / 116,407
70. [PS4] Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin – 61,005 / NEW
71. [NSW] Disney Tsum Tsum Festival – 60,492 / 185,990
72. [PS4] FIFA 21 – 60,129 / NEW
73. [PS4] Watch Dogs Legion – 56,656 / NEW
74. [NSW] Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 – 56,406 / NEW
75. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythmic Adventure Pack – 52,621
76. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo – 52,499 / 525,361
77. [PS4] Atelier Ryza 2 – 51,861 / NEW
78. [NSW] Puyo Puyo Tetris S (Special Price) – 51,472 / 76,956
79. [NSW] Zelda: Link’s Awakening – 47,641 / 298,588
80. [NSW] Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town – 46,862 / 164,944
81. [PS4] Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – 46,701 / 255,782
82. [PS4] Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV – 46,272 / NEW
83. [PS4] Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales – 45,620 / NEW
84. [NSW] Fire Emblem: Three Houses – 45,459 / 319,364
85. [NSW] Ninjala – 45,391 / NEW
86. [PS4] Dragon Quest XI S – 44,711 / NEW
87. [PS4] Minecraft Starter Collection – 43,935 / NEW
88. [NSW] Obakeidoro – 42,203 / 48,728
89. [NSW] Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu – 42,077 / NEW
90. [NSW] Jump Force Deluxe Edition – 41,411 / NEW
91. [PS4] 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim – 40,155 / 87,601
92. [NSW] FIFA 21 Legacy Edition – 40,136 / NEW
93. [NSW] Pro Yakyuu Famista 2020 – 39,793 / NEW
94. [NSW] Atelier Ryza 2 – 39,532 / NEW
95. [NSW] My Hero One’s Justice 2 – 39,969 / NEW
96. [PS4] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition – 38,200 / NEW
97. [NSW] Kotoba no Puzzle: Moji Pittan Encore – 38,018 / NEW
98. [NSW] Yoshi’s Crafted World – 37,458 / 223,523
99. [PS4] NieR Automata Game of the YoRHa Edition – 37,120 / 96,968
100. [PS4] Gran Turismo Sport (PlayStation Hits) – 36,507 / 49,245

MORE: Why It's Time for Animal Crossing: New Horizons to Release Paid DLC

Source: Famitsu (via Nintendo Everything)