Minecraft Dominated the Japanese Nintendo Switch eShop in 2017

Nintendo has revealed its biggest Switch sellers on the eShop in 2017 across Japan and overseas regions. Which downloadable title earned top spot in Japan? Of course, it was none other than gaming’s Western behemoth, Minecraft.

The Microsoft-owned franchise which released commercially over six years ago is showing no signs of slowing down. It would seem Switch players just couldn’t resist the comfort of portable crafting.

Internationally, Stardew Valley took the crown, with Minecraft following closely behind. It’s interesting to note that Snipperclips is the only first-party game to have made the top five in any region, which just goes to show the success the Switch has enjoyed with third-parties in its first year alone.

The full lists might surprise you (look at all those successful indies!):

Japanese Top 30:

1. Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition
2. Snipperclips: Cut it Out, Together!
3. Shinobi Refle: Senran Kagura
4. Kamiko
5. Arcade Archives NEOGEO: Metal Slug 3
6. Overcooked: Special Edition
7. Arcade Archives NEOGEO: The King of Fighters 98
8. Arcade Archives: VS Super Mario Bros.
9. Othello
10. STRIKERS1945 for Nintendo Switch
11. Resident Evil Revelations 2
12. VOEZ
13. Arcade Archives: Mario Brothers
14. Touhou Kobuto V
15. Human Resource Machine
16. New Frontier Days: Founding Pioneers
17. DEEMO
18. Shovel Knight
19. Picross S
20. Nazotoki Mail
21. Arcade Archives NEOGEO: Metal Slug
22. Sonic Mania
23. Romancing Saga 2
24. Maison de MAOU
25. Rocket League
26. IMPLOSION
27. Blaster Master Zero
28. Cat Quest
29. Battle Sports Mekuru
30. Levels+

Worldwide Top 30:

1. Stardew Valley
2. Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition
3. Sonic Mania
4. Rocket League
5. Snipperclips: Cut it Out, Together!
6. Overcooked: Special Edition
7. Shovel Knight
8. Fast RMX
9. Kamiko
10. SteamWorld Dig 2
11. Arcade Archives NEOGEO: VS Super Mario Bros.
12. Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap
13. Blaster Master Zero
14. Arcade Archives: Metal Slug 3
15. Enter the Gungeon
16. Oceanhorn
17. Mighty Gunvolt Burst
18. Arcade Archives: Mario Brothers
19. Arcade Archives NEOGEO: Metal Slug
20. Picross S
21. THUMPER
22. Graceful Explosion Machine
23. Arcade Archives NEOGEO: The King Of Fighters 98
24. Mr. Shifty
25. World of Goo
26. Brawlout
27. Human Fall Flat
28. UNO
29. GoNNER
30. IMPLOSION

One conclusive point to take away from this data is that the future is looking bright for third-parties on Switch.