The Tool Desk
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What the sales figures show
The clearest comparison is between reported game sales, but the figures have different scopes. Guinness World Records gives a broad total for Mario games and spin-offs; Nintendo’s current figures here are for individual Nintendo Switch games.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - World Edition | $56.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Legend of Zelda™: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Nintendo Switch 2) | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| Series or game | Reported sales | Scope and cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Mario games and spin-offs | 893,464,669 units | Guinness World Records figure dated June 10, 2025. It excludes Mario Kart World because its sales had not yet been revealed. |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 71.53 million units | Nintendo Switch worldwide life-to-date sales as of June 30, 2026; a Mario spin-off. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 34.06 million units | Nintendo Switch worldwide life-to-date sales as of June 30, 2026. |
| Super Mario Odyssey | 30.80 million units | Nintendo Switch worldwide life-to-date sales as of June 30, 2026; a core-series comparison. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | 22.71 million units | Nintendo Switch worldwide life-to-date sales as of June 30, 2026. |
Nintendo’s Switch software figures are worldwide life-to-date units and include downloads and units bundled with hardware or other products. They are not a count of unique players. Nintendo’s top-selling Nintendo Switch software lists the individual game totals.
The Mario franchise total and Zelda game figures are not a matched comparison: one combines Mario games and spin-offs across the franchise, while the Zelda numbers above are for two selected games on one platform. Guinness’s Mario figure is also dated earlier than Nintendo’s Switch cutoff. The sources cited here do not establish a current, comparable franchise-wide Zelda sales total.
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How the answer changes with the meaning of “popular”
Overall game sales
Mario leads on the available broad sales evidence. Guinness’s reported total includes spin-offs, so it reflects a larger scope than just the main Super Mario platform games. Guinness also notes that Mario Kart World is not included in its figure.
Recent individual games
Zelda’s recent Switch releases are major sellers: Breath of the Wild stands at 34.06 million units and Tears of the Kingdom at 22.71 million. For a closer comparison with a mainline Mario platform game, Super Mario Odyssey is at 30.80 million. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has a higher total, 71.53 million, but it is a spin-off rather than a core Super Mario platform title. All four Nintendo totals use the same June 30, 2026 cutoff and worldwide Switch-sales basis.
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Recognition and personal preference
Sales alone cannot tell us which character more people recognize, which series they prefer, or which has more active fans. The figures above measure units sold, not public opinion or cultural visibility; the cited sources do not provide a direct, comparable recognition or preference survey.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the series totals need careful labeling
Different sources count different things. Nintendo UK’s 2010 anniversary article said the Super Mario Bros. series had sold more than 240 million units worldwide. That older figure covers a narrower series than Guinness’s later total across Mario games and spin-offs, so it should not be treated as a competing estimate of the same total. Nintendo UK’s 2010 anniversary article provides that historical statement.
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Rank #3
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For the same reason, a high-selling Mario spin-off can demonstrate Mario’s commercial reach without being a like-for-like comparison with a Zelda adventure. Any answer about which franchise is bigger should say whether it is comparing a complete franchise, a core series, or selected games.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
