There’s little doubting the phenomenal hardware sales performance linked to both the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS since they were both unleashed upon an unsuspecting, excited, and somewhat sceptical public.
Nintendo hits the first-party software sales figures clean out of the park. Credit: Nintendo.
The Nintendo DS continues to outperform all-comers at retail, despite being more than three years old, while the demographic-busting appeal of the Wii has seen it quieten nay-sayers the world over while Microsoft’s market lead and Sony’s best efforts have all-but fallen by the wayside.
But what of Nintendo’s standing in the software arena, not least following a year dominated by critically and commercially successful Xbox 360 exclusives and high-powered next generation offerings not best suited to the Wii or DS?
Well, Nintendo is keen to point out that its little underpowered and unworthy consoles are doing just fine, thanks very much for asking.
Specifically, since its release Wii Sports (included in the Wii hardware bundle) has shifted a staggering 17,850,000 copies worldwide, while Wii Play follows close behind with an impressive 9,230,000, and sci-fi spectacular Super Mario Galaxy rounds out the Wii top three with 5,190,000.
Thanks to the advantage of more lengthy exposure, titles on the Nintendo DS fair even better with Nintendogs (also a bundle offering) still chasing its tail at retailers thanks to 17,790,000 copies sold, while Pokemon Diamond & Pearl have combined for 14,170,000 copies, and New Super Mario Bros. has managed 13,140,000.
All in all, the Wii has thus far notched up 11 titles in the 1-million-or-more copies sold list, with the DS having gathered a solid 12.
It’s worth noting here that the titles Nintendo is lauding are strictly first-party published releases. Who says Nintendo is struggling to shift software?
Here are the sales performance lists in full:
Nintendo Wii
Wii Sports - 17,850,000
Wii Play - 9,230,000
Super Mario Galaxy - 5,190,000
Mario Party 8 - 4,350,000
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 4,300,000
Super Paper Mario - 2,160,000
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree - 2,000,000
Mario Strikers Charged - 1,650,000
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - 1,140,000
Link's Crossbow Training - 1,070,000
Wii Fit - 1,050,000
Nintendo DS
Nintendogs - 17,790,000
Pokemon Diamond & Pearl - 14,170,000
New Super Mario Bros. - 13,140,000
Brain Age - 11,710,000
Brain Age 2 - 9,840,000
Mario Kart DS - 9,670,000
Animal Crossing: Wild World - 9,200,000
Super Mario 64 DS - 5,780,000
Big Brain Academy - 4,610,000
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - 3,820,000
Pokemon Ranger - 2,610,000
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Explorers of Darkness - 1,540,000 
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