According to VGchartz.com, Nintendo’s Wii Sports, has now become the best selling game of all time, beating Super Mario Bors. for the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Bundled with the Nintendo Wii, Wii Sports has reached a total of 40.52 million copies since 2006.
While I enjoy Wii Sports and believe it’s one of the best titles for the Wii, counting bundled software as the “top” best selling game is a little unfair because, buyers of the Wii don’t have a choice regarding it’s purchase. It’s one of my favorite games but the same rule applies to Super Mario Bros. as well.
If Wii Sports or Super Mario Bros. weren’t bundled with consoles, I’m sure they both would sell millions of copies. But 40 million copies? I don’t think so.
From VGchartz.com
“Including VGChartz software data for the week ending 27th December 2008, Wii Sports has now passed sales of Super Mario Bros (NES) at 40.24 million units, making it the best selling videogame of all time. The game, bundled in every country outside of Japan and South Korea, reached that milestone after 110 weeks of sales.”
“Super Mario Bros ., released between 1985 and 1987 across the USA, Japan, and Europe and came bundled with most NES consoles. The game accumulated its sales on an install base of 61.91 million NES. Nintendo’s Wii has sold more than 45 million units so far, according to the data provided by VGChartz.com, giving Wii Sports room for sales beyond the 50 million units mark.”
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I bought the Wii for Mario, Zelda, Metroid and for Nintendo's next innovation whatever it may be. Most people bought the Wii for Wii Sports. I'm sure the number would be high even if it wasn't a pack-in.