Nintendo did something very unexpected with one of its longest-running franchises, not only reviving it with 2 remakes, but also announcing and just releasing a brand new installment. Unfortunately, the title failed to debut at the top of the sales charts in Japan.
Famitsu (via Gematsu) published the list of physical software sales for week 35 of 2024, which ran from August 26 to September 1, and what is striking is that the Nintendo Switch exclusive developed by Nintendo itself Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club had low sales that only managed to place 5th.
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Why did Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club have a weak debut in Japan?
The truth is that the Nintendo exclusive didn’t have it easy, as last week was one of many releases. Along with Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club, Gundam Breaker 4, Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash, Visions of Mana and Star Wars Oultlaws all made the best-seller list. The clear winner was Gundam Breaker 4, which sold 52,825 units with the Nintendo Switch version alone.
While it’s rare for a Nintendo exclusive to fail to debut at the top of the sales charts in Japan, it’s happened twice in recent years. In July, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (27,391 units) also failed to top the charts, with Powerful Pro Baseball 2024-2025 (166,947 on Nintendo Switch alone) taking the crown. However, the retro challenge title remained in third place, while Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club slipped to 5th place.
It should also be noted that Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is not a game suitable for everyone like most of the games developed by Nintendo, but it is the most disturbing in the history of the company, which definitely reduced its reach on Nintendo Switch, a console aimed primarily at children, young people and a casual audience. Besides, we are talking about a long-running and little-known franchise from the company that until a few years ago was forgotten, so relatively these may be good numbers to ensure the continuity of the series.
It should also be noted that the sales in question only correspond to units in physical format according to Famitsu estimates.
In case you missed it: Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club touches on some pretty heavy themes.
Software sales
Gundam Breaker 4 (Nintendo Switch) — 52,825
Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash — 37,939
Gundam Breaker 4 (PlayStation 5) — 32,518
Visions of Mana (PlayStation 5) — 30,696
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club — 25,028
Gundam Breaker 4 (PlayStation 4) — 13,175
Nintendo Switch Sports — 10,370
Star Wars Oultlaws — 10,087
Visions of Mana (PlayStation 4) — 10,068
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — 9879
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club failed to debut at the top of the sales chart in Japan
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