In this week’s Japanese sales charts, Mario Kart World zoomed back into first place, reclaiming the top spot from Kirby Air Riders. The game sold around 49,586 copies this week, which pushed it ahead of Kirby Air Riders, which still moved a strong 46,287 units. For fans in Japan, that means Mario is sitting on the throne once again, but Kirby isn’t far behind.
It’s great to see Kirby Air Riders going head-to-head with one of, if not the biggest, karting games out there.
What’s Going On: Japan Loves Its Karts, UK… Not So Much
The back-and-forth between these two games shows how competitive the current Switch 2 lineup is. Kirby Air Riders dethroned Mario Kart last week by topping the charts, but we know how big a brand Mario is in Japan, so it was going to take the top spot again. But, credit where credit is due, Kirby Air Riders isn’t falling behind.
What’s wild is how different things are in the UK. While Air Riders and Mario Kart are duking it out in Japan, Kirby Air Riders didn’t even crack the top 40 in the UK charts this week.
That’s a rough landing for a game doing well in its home region. On the other hand, Mario Kart World remains stable in the UK. Kirby Air Riders drop-off just shows how varied the regional tastes can be.
So what’s the reason? Well, for starters, Mario Kart has a legacy and a dedicated fanbase. It’s “the” karting game. The name itself has built-in trust. On the other hand, Kirby Air Riders might be big in Japan, but in the UK, nobody really seems to care. It might appeal more to players chasing new experiences or more niche tastes, which tends to do better in markets like Japan, where there’s strong Switch 2 demand.
For now, Mario Kart World is king in Japan again. But Kirby’s strong showing suggests that if the trend keeps up, it could be a two-title race for some time. As for the UK? Kirby may need a second wind if it wants to survive among bigger players.
