What Was the Best-Selling Game on the NES?

This article investigates the sales history of the Nintendo Entertainment System to determine the best-selling game on the NES. Readers will learn about the top title, the impact of console bundles on sales figures, and the legacy of the platform’s most popular software.

The Undisputed Champion: Super Mario Bros.

When discussing the library of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), one title stands above the rest in terms of commercial success. The best-selling game on the NES is the original Super Mario Bros., released in 1985. Developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo, this platformer introduced players to Mario and Luigi in the Mushroom Kingdom. It set the standard for side-scrolling games and remains a cornerstone of video game history.

Sales Figures and Bundle Strategies

The sales dominance of Super Mario Bros. is largely attributed to its inclusion in hardware bundles. For many years, the game was packaged directly with the NES console, ensuring that almost every owner of the system possessed a copy. According to historical sales data, Super Mario Bros. sold approximately 40.24 million copies worldwide. This figure dwarfs most other titles on the platform and secures its position as the highest-selling single game on the system.

It is important to note the relationship between Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt. In many regions, particularly North America, the two games were distributed on a single cartridge included with the console. While some sales metrics combine these titles, Super Mario Bros. is individually credited with the higher sales volume when tracked separately across various regions and re-releases.

Other Top Contenders

While Super Mario Bros. holds the top spot, other games also achieved massive success on the platform. Super Mario Bros. 3, released later in the console’s lifecycle, sold approximately 18 million copies. Unlike the original, this sequel was sold as a standalone cartridge more often than it was bundled, proving that consumers were willing to purchase the software independently. Duck Hunt follows closely behind in total units distributed due to its bundling status, often cited with sales figures around 28 million copies.

Legacy of the Best-Seller

The success of Super Mario Bros. did more than just drive hardware sales; it helped revive the North American video game industry following the crash of 1983. Its tight controls, memorable music, and level design created a blueprint for future game development. Decades later, the original Super Mario Bros. remains the best-selling game on the NES, symbolizing the peak of the 8-bit era and establishing Nintendo as a dominant force in entertainment.