In the quiet geometry of our homes — the living room sofa, the desk well-worn by late nights, the backpack bulging with cables — consoles have nestled like friends who never ask for much. They have waited for us, patient and familiar, ready with worlds unseen and stories yet to be lived. And in the gentle arc of time, one such console, simple in its promise yet robust in its reach, has quietly outpaced its companions in Nintendo’s long lineage of gaming companions.
What began in 2017 as an experiment — blending the immovable comfort of the living room screen with the portable whisper of handheld play — the Nintendo Switch has grown into something more than hardware. It became a mirror for shared childhood memories and late-night journeys through Hyrule, Mushroom Kingdoms, far-flung rails of animal-filled islands, and skies thick with adventure. And now, in a moment that feels as much like reflection as reckoning, Nintendo’s own figures show that the Switch has sold 155.37 million units worldwide, officially making it the best-selling console in the company’s history.
If consoles were bookshelves, each model would hold a different chapter: the Game Boy with its brick-like charm and glowing screens, the Wii with its gestures and laughter, the DS double-decked and bright. Yet among them, the Switch has become a quiet lighthouse, consistently drawing players to its shores. Its hybrid spirit allowed it to bridge distances — between handheld dawdles and shared living room laughter — and in doing so, it built a community of players who saw not just plastic and circuitry, but possibility.
This milestone — surpassing the cherished Nintendo DS — was reached during a bustling holiday season, a reflection of years of steady demand that outpaced forecasts and expectation. It stands as a testament to the device’s adaptability, its roster of beloved franchises, and the devotion of the players who welcomed it into their routines.
Yet even in its triumph, the Switch does not overshadow the larger world of gaming history. Its lifetime sales, while unmatched within the house of Mario and Zelda, still trail the gigantic legacy of Sony’s PlayStation 2 — the broader industry’s bestselling console with over 160 million units sold before its sunset.
As Nintendo continues to chart its path — with fresh innovations like the Switch 2 gaining early momentum and helping drive robust financial results — the original Switch’s story feels like a gentle reminder: milestones are not only about topping charts, but about the moments woven into them.
In the realm of gaming, where numbers often tell fables of success or rivalry, perhaps the truest measure is not how many units were sold, but how many hearts were opened to play, explore, and return again. The Switch, in its own humble way, has become that — a companion in the evolving world of play.
And so, in straightforward terms drawn from Nintendo’s latest reports: the Switch has now become the best-selling console in Nintendo’s history, overtaking the DS with 155.37 million units sold globally as of late 2025, even as the company looks ahead to new hardware horizons.
AI Image Disclaimer (Rotated Wording) “Illustrations were produced with AI and serve as conceptual depictions.”
Sources:
The Verge Video Games Chronicle Nintendo Everything GoNintendo Reuters