SCI-TECH: GAMES- Nintendo eShop’s 2019 top sellers

Global phenomenon Fortnite tops the rankings, with the free-to-play battle-royale title continuing to find success on the Switch since adding the handheld console to its list of available platforms in June 2018. PHOTO: EPIC GAMES

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Nintendo recently announced its “top selling games of 2019” on the eShop for the Switch, providing a list of 25 titles through its Switch news channel.

According to Nintendo, the “ranking is based on Nintendo eShop unit sales in 2019” and was published on December 25, 2019 for the Americas region.

The eShop is Nintendo’s digital distribution service.

 

1. Fortnite

Global phenomenon Fortnite tops the rankings, with the free-to-play battle-royale title continuing to find success on the Switch since adding the handheld console to its list of available platforms in June 2018. In Fortnite, the aim is to be the last one standing in a 100-player battle royale, be it solo or in teams of two to four players, all the while searching for gear and building your own cover.

 

2. Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Ranked second in the list is Nintendo exclusive Super Smash Bros Ultimate, a fighting game which sees players do battle by controlling one character from a huge roster that brings together Nintendo mascots and various characters from third-party franchises.

 

3. Minecraft

Third in the rankings is Minecraft, which is the best-selling video game of all time, to date. In Minecraft, players place blocks and go on adventures, and can opt to journey across mysterious lands in Survival mode or build anything they can imagine with unlimited resources in Creative mode.

 

4. Cuphead

The fourth entry on the list is Cuphead, a run and gun action game with a heavy focus on boss battles. The game has a unique visual and audio style that is heavily inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, with hand drawn cel animation, watercolour backgrounds and original jazz recordings.

 

5. Untitled Goose Game

Ranked fifth is Untitled Goose Game, a puzzle-stealth game that sees players control a goose that has been let loose on a village. According to the game’s official page on the Nintendo website, players make their way around the town, “from peoples’ back gardens to high street shops and the village’s greenery,” all the while “setting up pranks, stealing hats, honking a lot and generally ruining everyone’s day.”

 

6. Pokemon Sword

Nintendo exclusive Pokemon Sword, one of the two first instalments (the other being Pokemon Shield) of the eighth generation of the Pokemon video games, is the sixth game in the ranking.

Sword sees players go on an adventure as a Pokemon trainer, embarking on a journey a region called Galar, all the while catching, battling and trading Pokemon.

 

 

7. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Another Nintendo exclusive in the top 10 is tactical role-playing game Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which ranks seventh in the list.

In Three Houses, players take on the role of a former mercenary turned professor, choosing one of three nations to support and guide through various battles.

 

8. NBA 2K19

Basketball simulation game NBA 2K19 takes eighth spot in the list, and is also the only sports game in the rankings.

According to the official game page on Nintendo, “NBA 2K celebrates 20 years of redefining what sports gaming can be, from best in class graphics and gameplay to groundbreaking game modes and an immersive open-world ‘Neighborhood’. NBA 2K19 continues to push limits as it brings gaming one step closer to real-life basketball excitement and culture.”

 

9. New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe

The ninth top selling game of 2019 on the eshop was 2.5D side-scrolling platformer New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe – a Switch exclusive that brings together enhanced ports of Wii U games New Super Mario Bros U and New Super Luigi U.

Featuring simple, straightforward controls, new playable characters optimised for younger and less-experience and a slew of bonus content, the game’s official page describes it as “a perfect choice for anyone looking to introduce their family to the wonderful world of Mario.”

 

10. Dragon Ball FighterZ

Rounding up the top 10 is 2D fighting game Dragon Ball FighterZ, a game that brings spectacular fights to life with its roster of fighters from the Dragon Ball series and beautiful anime visuals.

Dragon Ball FighterZ’s gameplay is described as being “easy to learn but difficult to master” and allows players to build a team in 3v3 tag battles.

 

Outside of the top 10, the other games listed are as follows:

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11) Pokemon Shield, one of the two first games in the eighth generation of the video game series;

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12) Super Mario Maker 2, a side-scrolling platform game which also allows players to create their own levels and courses;

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13) cooperative cooking simulation game Overcooked! 2;

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14) atmospheric Metroidvania-style adventure game Hollow Knight;

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15) The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, a remake of the classic Gameboy title;

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16) action adventure Luigi’s Mansion 3, which won Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2019;

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17) rhythmic action-adventure Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda;

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18) multiplayer party game Super Mario Party;

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19) much loved classic JRPG Final Fantasy VII;

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20) role-playing fighting game Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2;

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21) action game Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order;

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22) critically acclaimed indie RPG Undertale;

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23) rhythmic action-adventure Crypt of the Necrodancer;

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24) free-to-play multiplayer action RPG Warframe; and

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25) fighting game Mortal Kombat 11.

 

Sharing his thoughts on the list, local games enthusiast Mohd Nor said, “I’m not surprised with Fortnite taking top spot. It is the game that made the battle royale popular around the world.

“Minecraft is also no surprise, as it is the best creative sandbox game on the Switch and is popular with kids,” he continued. “Cuphead is a surprise, since it was originally Xbox exclusive. I hope to see more collaboration between Nintendo and Microsoft.

“Untitled Goose Game alongside Crypt of the Necrodancer and Undertale being on the list bodes well for indie developers on the Switch, despite them being older games on other platforms.”

“Seeing Pokemon Sword and Shield make it onto the list despite only debuting at end of 2019 is also no surprise, given their huge fanbase for the franchise.”

Speaking on his personal favourite games from the list, he said, “Hollow Knight for its crisp controls and aesthetics, and Warframe for its graphics, constant updates and free to play nature.”