Skip to main content

Co-op, Not Competition: Nintendo reveals list of worldwide best-selling games of 2012

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Regional sales tracking firms like the NPD Group, Media Creates and others are often the only regular source for getting a picture of what people are paying to play in the video game market. As the balance between digital distribution and traditional brick and mortar retail even out, it’s become more difficult to accurately portray just what people like to play besides Call of Duty. It’s surprising then that Nintendo, one of gaming’s most secretive companies, revealed the top twenty bestselling video games from around the world during its recent earnings report. Nintendo compiled data from those previously listed research firms as well as Gfk International.

With breakdowns for the US, Europe, and Japan, the lists show not just what’s performed well this year, but helps gauge what types of games console publishers will invest in over the next few years as the transition to next-gen consoles begins in earnest.

Recommended Videos

The tops of the charts aren’t surprising based on how the industry’s past half decade. The top two best-selling video games in the United States between January and September 2012 were Madden NFL 13 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Electronic Arts also dominated Europe (Gfk tracks fourteen countries in the region), taking the top three spots with FIFA 13 on PS3 and Xbox 360 in first and second respectively with FIFA 12 on PS3 taking third. Nintendo dominated Japan, with Pokémon Black 2/White 2 taking the top two slots.

It’s deeper in the list that more revealing statistics emerge. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, for example, was only the sixth best-selling game across 2012, beaten out by competitors like Mass Effect 3 and even Borderlands 2 (fifth and third respectively.) This means that while the sales tail on Call of Duty remains strong, it’s diminished from highs in 2010 with Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which dominated for months after their respective releases. The competitive shooting games was not as favored over the first nine months of the year as co-operative, campaign-centric shooters like Mass Effect and Borderlands. The rest of the list bears this out as well. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier came in at eleventh, where EA’s Battlefield 3 came in at fourteenth. Future Soldier was a May release, and it does sport competitive modes, but even that example supports the POV that multiplayer tastes in the US are shifting.

What of Europe? Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 3, Uncharted 3, and Mass Effect 3 were on the European list, but that was it for shooters. Nintendo published titles like Super Mario 3D Land, Wii Party and others were far more common in the region, boding well for the Wii U. Gran Turismo 5 also took eighth in Europe, reaffirming the strength of that brand for Sony abroad.

Japan was, again unsurprisingly, dominated by Nintendo and Square-Enix published games for handhelds, with three Capcom titles and two Namco Bandai titles sneaking in as well.

Anthony John Agnello
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Anthony John Agnello is a writer living in New York. He works as the Community Manager of Joystiq.com and his writing has…
The next Battlefield will take inspiration from some of the series’ best games
Soldiers standing behind turret guns in Battlefield 4.

Players got their first look at the new Battlefield on Monday, along with a bit of information on what's to come.

In an interview with IGN, head and founder of Respawn Vince Zampella revealed that the next Battlefield was inspired by Battlefield 3 and 4 -- specifically in terms of its setting. Zampella told IGN that it'll be set in modern times, as opposed to the most recent game in the franchise, Battlefield 2042.
"I mean, if you look back to the peak or the pinnacle of Battlefield, it's that Battlefield 3 ... Battlefield 4 era where everything was modern. And I think we have to get back to the core of what Battlefield is and do that amazingly well, and then we'll see where it goes from there. But I think for me, it's that peak of Battlefield-ness is in that Battlefield 3 and 4 days. So I think it's nostalgic for players, for me, for the teams even. Those are kind of the heyday ... although I would say 1942 also."
You can see a very small bit of this in concept art shared with IGN. It's not much, but there is a ton smoke and flames surrounding what looks like a European city. There are some helicopters deep in the background, along with some ships, suggesting that helicopter and ship warfare will return.

Read more
These Switch bundles come with one of Nintendo’s best multiplayer game for free
nintendo switch mario kart 8 deluxe bundle peach yoshi

Nintendo is kicking off the holidays early with two new Switch bundles set to release "early this fall" that will basically give you a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Nintendo Switch Online for free.

Nintendo announced the bundles on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. The bundle with the regular Nintendo Switch and Neon Red and Neon Blue Joy-Con controllers will cost $300, while the one with the Switch OLED and white Joy-Cons will sell for $350. Both bundles include a console, a digital download of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and 12 months of Nintendo Switch Online.

Read more
Nintendo Direct is today, and Best Buy is discounting Mario games
Mario and Luigi build in Super Mario Maker 2

With the school year drawing ever-closer, now is the best time to cram as many video game hours as you can. To that end, Nintendo’s Direct conference takes place today, and we couldn’t be more excited about all the announcements we’ll get to hear from the home of Mario. Speaking of which, Best Buy has marked down three popular Mario games; so why not invest in one, two, or all three titles to reward yourself for a summer well spent? 

We’ll be covering the Nintendo Direct event, so be sure to check the site and social media for exciting Nintendo reveals. We also have an entire list of video game deals that you should check out.
Super Mario Maker 2 — $45, was $60

Read more