After a three-month reign at the top of Nintendo's eShop charts, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was dethroned this week by Minecraft Dungeons, a Diablo-like action RPG spinoff of Mojang and Microsoft's best-selling sandbox game. New Horizons has held the top spot since launching in mid-March.
With only a small resemblance to the original in gameplay, Minecraft Dungeons was a gamble for Mojang Studios and Microsoft, but its bet seems to have paid off. Critical reception to the game has been mostly positive for Minecraft's take on the ARPG genre, with fans and non-fans giving the game a try. Switch is also the perfect platform for an ARPG like this, where bite-sized levels can be completed in less than 30 minutes.
Analyst Benji-Sales pointed to the game's performance on Switch as indicative of its success in a Twitter post. The Switch version has been a hit alongside the Xbox One and PC versions, which got a boost thanks to launching as part of Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass service on both platforms. Newcomers to the genre will likely find that the gameplay takes some getting used to, but Minecraft Dungeons does a solid job of introducing its mechanics to younger or less experienced players, while also providing a steeper challenge for hardcore fans.
Launching at a fraction of the typical $60 price tag for triple-A titles appears to have given Minecraft Dungeons a boost on platforms beyond the Xbox and PC. While the runtime of the game is rather short compared to larger titles, Mojang and Double Eleven are already planning to add more content to the game. Cross-platform multiplayer support on all supported platforms, including the PS4 version, is set to arrive at a later date, along with new locations like the Frozen Fjord in its upcoming DLC.
But while its seat at the top might be gone (for now), Animal Crossing isn't likely to drop out of the charts anytime soon, as Nintendo's life simulation title continues to hook new players into its idyllic world. Fans are continuing to discover new items and content as the game continues with its calendar-based updates, with summer and winter solstice-themed items recently releasing for players on both hemispheres.
Minecraft Dungeons is available now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Source: Benji-Sales