Derby Stallion 2 Becomes Top Seller in Japan: Major Hits Left Behind

Famitsu magazine revealed the sales of major games in Japan. First place goes to the horse breeding and training simulator Derby Stallion 2 for Nintendo Switch 2.

Derby Stallion 2 unexpectedly topped game sales in Japan, surpassing Rhythm Heaven Groove, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, and other major releases.

Game Sales in Japan (September 21–27)

  1. [NS2] Derby Stallion 2 — 29,336
  2. [NS] Rhythm Heaven Groove — 27,309 (total: 1,049,922)
  3. [NS2] Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave — 26,728 (total: 153,859)
  4. [PS5] Silent Hill: Townfall — 13,596
  5. [NS2] Dragon Quest 11 S — 10,844
  6. [PS5] EA Sports FC 27 — 9,873
  7. [NS] Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream — 8,052 (total: 1,618,104)
  8. [NS2] Splatoon Raiders — 7,405 (total: 671,202)
  9. [NS2] EA Sports FC 27 — 5,952
  10. [PS5] Onimusha: Way of the Sword — 5,141 (total: 110,087)

The most unexpected result was Derby Stallion 2 taking first place. The horse breeding and racing game launched with 29,336 copies sold, leaving other projects behind. The series has a dedicated audience in Japan, but such a strong debut was still unexpected. The result once again shows how much the preferences of local players can differ from the Western market.