Nintendo 3DS eShop - Top 15 software ranking in Japan from 2011-2020

[P.Scoop]

Nintendo recently reveal a list of top 15 software on the 3DS eShop in Japan, from 2011 to 2020. While there are no actual hard numbers, I think it should be on its own thread and would be fun to discuss what's popular on the Japanese 3DS eShop. Thanks to @Lite_Agent for providing the list!

2011
01./00. – The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [08.6.2011] {628 Yen}
02./00. – Super Mario Land [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [07.6.2011] {419 Yen}
03./00. – 3D Classics Xevious (Nintendo) [07.6.2011] {628 Yen}
04./00. – Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive! (Nintendo) [07.9.2011] {??? Yen}
05./00. – @SIMPLE DL Series Vol. 1 THE Misshitsu kara no Dasshutsu ~Fushigina Kumadonald Burger-hen~ (D3 Publisher) [29.6.2011] {509 Yen}
06./00. – Kersploosh! (Poisoft) [07.6.2011] {300 Yen}
07./00. – Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) {419 Yen}
08./00. – Pushmo (Nintendo) [05.10.2011] {734 Yen}
09./00. – Kirby's Dream Land [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [07.6.2011] {419 Yen}
10./00. – Picross e7 (Jupiter) [27.7.2011] {500 Yen}
11./00. – Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword (Nintendo) [16.11.2011] {734 Yen}
12./00. – 3D Classics TwinBee (Nintendo) [10.8.2011] {628 Yen}
13./00. – Nazo Waku Yakata: Oto no Ma ni Ma ni Dai Ichiwa "Hikaru Me" (Capcom) [04.8.2011] {209 Yen}
14./00. – Touch Battle Tank 3D (Silverstar Japan) [26.10.2011] {509 Yen}
15./00. – Donkey Kong [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [17.10.2012] *

Note:
* Yes, it's a 2012 game. I assume it's listed in the 2011 chart because of the Ambassador program, with official release in 2012.
(Original comment by Lite_Agent)

2012
01./New. – Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Nintendo) [8.11.2012] {5,028 Yen}
02./New. – Pokémon Dream Radar (The Pokémon Company) [23.6.2012] {315 Yen}
03./New. – THE "DENPA" MEN: They Came By Wave (Genius Sonority) [08.2.2012] {800 Yen}
04./New. – Super Mario Bros. [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [05.1.2012] {524 Yen}
05./New. – 3D Classics Kirby's Adventure (Nintendo) [25.4.2012] {628 Yen}
06./New. – Pokédex 3D Pro (The Pokémon Company) [14.7.2012] {1,572 Yen}
07./New. – THE "DENPA" MEN 2: Beyond the Waves (Genius Sonority) [26.9.2012] {1,000 yen}
08./04. – Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive! (Nintendo) [07.9.2011] {??? Yen}
09./14. – Touch Battle Tank 3D (Silverstar Japan) [26.10.2011] {509 Yen}
10./08. – Pushmo (Nintendo) [05.10.2011] {734 Yen}
11./New. – New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo) [28.7.2012] {5,028 Yen}
12./New. – Dillon's Rolling Western (Nintendo) [22.2.2012] {1,047 Yen}
13./New. – Kirby's Dream Land 2 [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [15.2.2012] {419 Yen}
14./New. – Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [25.7.2012] {524 Yen}
15./New. – @SIMPLE DL Series Vol. 3 THE Misshitsu kara no Dasshutsu ~Serebuna Goutei-hen~ (D3 Publisher) [4.04.2012] {509 Yen}


2013
01./New. – Monster Hunter 4 (Capcom) [14.9.2013] {6,276 Yen}
02./01. – Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Nintendo) [8.11.2012] {5,028 Yen}
03./New. – Bike Rider DX (spicysoft) [26.12.2012] {400 Yen}
04./02. – Pokémon Dream Radar (The Pokémon Company) [23.6.2012] {315 Yen}
05./New. – Super Mario Bros. 3 [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [01.1.2013] {524 Yen}
06./New. – Puyo Puyo!! Mini Version (SEGA) [07.11.2012] {315 Yen}
07./New. – Shaun the Sheep 3D Episode 1 (Nintendo) [21.2.2013] {105 Yen}
08./New. – Tomodachi Life (Nintendo) [18.4.2013] {5,028 Yen}
09./New. – Touch Battle Tank 3D-2 (Silverstar Japan) [05.6.2013] {509 Yen}
10./New. – Gunman Clive (Flyhigh Works) [22.5.2013] {200 Yen}
11./New. – THE "DENPA" MEN 3 The Rise of Digitoll (Genius Sonority) [07.8.2013] {1,000 Yen}
12./04. – Super Mario Bros. [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [05.1.2012] {524 Yen}
13./07. – THE "DENPA" MEN 2: Beyond the Waves (Genius Sonority) [26.9.2012] {1,000 yen}
14./New. – Witch & Hero (Flyhigh Works) [17.4.2013] {400 Yen}
15./New. – Bugs vs. Tanks (Level-5) [19.3.2013] {838 Yen}



2014
01./New. – Pokémon Battle Trozei (The Pokémon Company) [12.3.2014] {838 Yen}
02./New. – Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (Nintendo) [13.9.2014] {5,720 Yen}
03./New. – Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (Capcom) [11.10.2014] {3,554 Yen}
04./New. – Kirby Fighters Deluxe (Nintendo) [23.7.2014] {825 Yen}
05./New. – Bike Rider DX 2 Galaxy (spicysoft) [18.12.2013] {600 Yen}
06./New. – Dragon Quest X Online (Square-Enix) [01.12.2015] {??? Yen}
07./New. – Kirby Triple Deluxe (Nintendo) [11.1.2014] {5,028 Yen}
08./03. – Bike Rider DX (spicysoft) [26.12.2012] {400 Yen}
09./New. – Urban Trial: Freestyle (Flyhigh Works) [27.11.2013] {500 Yen}
10./New. – Pocket Card Jockey (Game Freak) [31.7.2013] {500 Yen}
11./06. – Puyo Puyo!! Mini Version (SEGA) [07.11.2012] {315 Yen}
12./04. – Pokémon Dream Radar (The Pokémon Company) [23.6.2012] {315 Yen}
13./New. – Yo-kai Watch (Level-5) [11.7.2013] {5,028 Yen}
14./New. – Puzzle & Dragons Z (GungHo Online Entertainment) [12.12.2013] {4,191 Yen}
15./New. – Pokémon Alpha Sapphire (The Pokémon Company) [21.11.2014] {5,028 Yen}

​

2015
01./New. – Monster Hunter Generations (Capcom) [28.11.2015] {6,101 Yen}
02./New. – The Battle Cats POP! (Ponos) [31.5.2015] {777 Yen}
03./New. – Cube Creator 3D (Arc System Works) [15.7.2015] {815 Yen}
04./New. – BoxBoy! (Nintendo) [15.1.2015] {693 Yen}
05./New. – Bike Rider DX 3: Time Rider (spicysoft) [17.12.2014] {600 Yen}
06./08. – Bike Rider DX (spicysoft) [26.12.2012] {400 Yen}
07./New. – Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer (Nintendo) [30.7.2015] {5,028 Yen}
08./New. – Daigasso! Band Brothers P Debut (Nintendo) [22.7.2015] {??? Yen}
09./New. – Fire Emblem Fates (Nintendo) [26.5.2015] {5,170 Yen}
10./09. – Urban Trial: Freestyle (Flyhigh Works) [27.11.2013] {500 Yen}
11./04. – Kirby Fighters Deluxe (Nintendo) [23.7.2014] {825 Yen}
12./New. – Rhythm Heaven Megamix (Nintendo) [11.6.2015] {5,170 Yen}
13./06. – Dragon Quest X Online (Square-Enix) [01.12.2015] {??? Yen}
14./00. – Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Nintendo) [8.11.2012] {5,028 Yen}
15./New. – Yo-kai Watch Busters: White Dog Squad (Level-5) [11.7.2015]


2016
01./New. – Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [27.2.2016] {1,222 Yen}
02./New. – Pokémon Red Version [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [27.2.2016] {1,222 Yen}
03./02. – The Battle Cats POP! (Ponos) [31.5.2015] {777 Yen}
04./New. – Pokémon Blue Version [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [27.2.2016] {1,222 Yen}
05./New. – Battleminer (Starsign) [10.2.2016] {500 Yen}
06./03. – Cube Creator 3D (Arc System Works) [15.7.2015] {815 Yen}
07./New. – Pokémon Green Version [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [27.2.2016] {1,222 Yen}
08./New. – Detective Pikachu ~Shin Konbi Tanjou~ (The Pokémon Company) [03.2.2016] {??? Yen}
09./New. – Pokémon Moon (The Pokémon Company) [18.11.2016] {5,478 Yen}
10./New. – Pokémon Sun (The Pokémon Company) [18.11.2016] {5,478 Yen}
11./New. – BoxBoxBoy! (Nintendo) [06.1.2016] {693 Yen}
12./New. – Super Mario World [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [04.3.2016] {838 Yen}
13./New. – EarthBound [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [04.3.2016] (943 Yen}
14./00. – Super Mario Bros. 3 [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [01.1.2013] {524 Yen}
15./06. – Bike Rider DX (spicysoft) [26.12.2012] {400 Yen}


2017
01./New. – Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (Capcom) [18.3.2017] {6,264 Yen}
02./New. – Pokémon Silver Version (Nintendo) [22.9.2017] {1,222 Yen}
03./03. – The Battle Cats POP! (Ponos) [31.5.2015] {777 Yen}
04./New. – Pokémon Gold Version (Nintendo) [22.9.2017] {1,222 Yen}
05./New. – Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Square-Enix) [29.7.2017] {6,578 Yen}
06./New. – Kirby's Blowout Blast (Nintendo) [04.7.2017] {825 Yen}
07./New. – Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation (Square-Enix) [24.8.2017] {1,650 Yen}
08./New. – Minecraft New Nintendo 3DS Edition (Microsoft Japan) [14.9.2017] {3,960 Yen}
09./New. – Bye-Bye BoxBoy! (Nintendo) [02.2.2017] {693 Yen}
10./01. – Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [27.2.2016] {1,222 Yen}
11./New. – Ice Station Z (Wobbly Tooth) [05.4.2017] {500 Yen}
12./New. – Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo (Nintendo) [23.11.2016] {2,970 Yen}
13./New. – Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line (Square-Enix) [10.8.2017] {935 Yen}
14./11. – Kirby Fighters Deluxe (Nintendo) [23.7.2014] {825 Yen}
15./New. – Pokémon Ultra Sun (The Pokémon Company) [17.11.2017] {5,478 Yen}


2018
01./New. – Pokémon Crystal Version [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [26.1.2018] {1,222 Yen}
02./03. – The Battle Cats POP! (Ponos) [31.5.2015] {777 Yen}
03./08. – Minecraft New Nintendo 3DS Edition (Microsoft Japan) [14.9.2017] {3,960 Yen}
04./New. – Battleminerz (Wobbly Tooth) [17.1.2018] {500 Yen}
05./07. – Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation (Square-Enix) [24.8.2017] {1,650 Yen}
06./11. – Ice Station Z (Wobbly Tooth) [05.4.2017] {500 Yen}
07./00. – Bike Rider DX (spicysoft) [26.12.2012] {400 Yen}
08./13. – Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line (Square-Enix) [10.8.2017] {935 Yen}
09./02. – Pokémon Silver Version (Nintendo) [22.9.2017] {1,222 Yen}
10./04. – Pokémon Gold Version (Nintendo) [22.9.2017] {1,222 Yen}
11./New. – Dragon Quest (Square-Enix) [10.8.2017] {660 Yen}
12./14. – Kirby Fighters Deluxe (Nintendo) [23.7.2014] {825 Yen}
13./New. – Etrian Odyssey Nexus (Atlus) [02.8.2018] {7,128 Yen}
14./12. – Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo (Nintendo) [23.11.2016] {2,970 Yen}
15./06. – Kirby's Blowout Blast (Nintendo) [04.7.2017] {825 Yen}


2019
01./02. – The Battle Cats POP! (Ponos) [31.5.2015] {777 Yen}
02./01. – Pokémon Crystal Version [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [26.1.2018] {1,222 Yen}
03./05. – Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation (Square-Enix) [24.8.2017] {1,650 Yen}
04./03. – Minecraft New Nintendo 3DS Edition (Microsoft Japan) [14.9.2017] {3,960 Yen}
05./08. – Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line (Square-Enix) [10.8.2017] {935 Yen}
06./06. – Ice Station Z (Wobbly Tooth) [05.4.2017] {500 Yen}
07./11. – Dragon Quest (Square-Enix) [10.8.2017] {660 Yen}
08./14. – Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo (Nintendo) [23.11.2016] {2,970 Yen}
09./04. – Battleminerz (Wobbly Tooth) [17.1.2018] {500 Yen}
10./00. – EarthBound [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [04.3.2016] {943 Yen}
11./07. – Bike Rider DX (spicysoft) [26.12.2012] {400 Yen}
12./New. – Mom Hid My Game! (Happ) [12.7.2017] {500 Yen}
13./09. – Pokémon Silver Version (Nintendo) [22.9.2017] {1,222 Yen}
14./New. – Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns (Marvelous) [23.6.2016] {5,478 Yen}
15./10. – Pokémon Gold Version (Nintendo) [22.9.2017] {1,222 Yen}


2020
01./08. – Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo (Nintendo) [23.11.2016] {2,970 Yen}
02./02. – Pokémon Crystal Version [Virtual Console] (Nintendo) [26.1.2018] {1,222 Yen}
03./01. – The Battle Cats POP! (Ponos) [31.5.2015] {777 Yen}
04./03. – Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation (Square-Enix) [24.8.2017] {1,650 Yen}
05./New. – Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (Capcom) [18.3.2017] {6,264 Yen}
06./New. – Monster Strike (mixi) [12.17.2015] {4,860 Yen} *
07./New. – Inazuma Eleven 1 - 2 - 3!! Endou Mamoru Densetsu (Level-5) [29.5.2013] {6,076 Yen}
08./New. – Nekketsu Koha Kunio-Kun Special (Arc System Works) [30.5.2013] [2,618 Yen} **
09./05. – Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line (Square-Enix) [10.8.2017] {935 Yen}
10./11. – Bike Rider DX (spicysoft) [26.12.2012] {400 Yen}
11./New. – Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice (Capcom) [9.6.2016] {3,046 Yen}
12./New. – The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve (Capcom) [3.8.2017] {3,046 Yen}
13./New. – A-Train 3D: City Simulator NEO (Artdink) [1.12.2016] {4,950 Yen} ***
14./New. – Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Capcom) [17.4.2014] {3,046 Yen}
15./03. – Minecraft New Nintendo 3DS Edition (Microsoft Japan) [14.9.2017] {3,960 Yen}

Note:
* No longer available to purchase.
** Originally released physically on 15.12.2011 for 4,536 yen.
*** Updated version of the original game that take advantage of New 3DS power, but it's not a New 3DS exclusive.

Source (Nintendo's Japanese website)

 

[Arynio]

Thank you very much for compiling this list. Seeing this from a 2022 Switch-influenced perspective, I'm surprised by the low digital share that mainline Pokémon (and other 1st party) games showed on 3DS. ACNL was the outlier. MH on the other hand showed consistently great digital sales in 3DS (for that console's standard at least).

By the way, shouldn't the #1 game of 2017 be Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate? If I recall correctly X = Generations, and XX = Generations Ultimate.

 

[jesusraz]

Is there any way to extrapolate any sales date from shipment reports, CY sales, etc? It's impressive how well DQX Online seemingly did.

 

[P.Scoop]

By the way, shouldn't the #1 game of 2017 be Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate? If I recall correctly X = Generations, and XX = Generations Ultimate.

After a bit of double checking, yeah it should! Will fix that in a jiffy.

Is there any way to extrapolate any sales date from shipment reports, CY sales, etc? It's impressive how well DQX Online seemingly did.

We might be able to do that on some titles (mostly Nintendo games) but it's going to take time to do so.

 

[jesusraz]

It's a fantastic collection of data, and when various estimations are finally added into the mix, it's going to be even more amazing!

Intriguing to see Minecraft doing so well, especially as it was New 3DS-only.

 

[ESCK Swiss]

The re-releases of the Gen 1 and 2 Pokémon games did really good, it's a shame they're not coming to the Switch.