Uploaded January 2018 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
An in-depth analysis of the statistics behind the Mario and Zelda franchises over the last thirty years. Which franchise has most contributed to Nintendo’s success? Which franchise was more important during good times and bad times?
Bonus section at the end of the video discusses the trends in game length between the two franchises.
Methods - 1:11
Sales - 2:42
Attach Rates - 7:07
Context - 11:16
Conclusion - 14:59
Bonus (Game Length) - 15:42
References
Mario and Zelda game sales data pulled from a combination of the following sources:
vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/Mario
vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda
gamecubicle.com/features-mario-units_sold_sales.htm
Also an assortment of Wikipedia pages
Thanks to howlongtobeat.com for game length figures.
Notes
Sales figures do not include re-releases and repackages (e.g. Majora’s Mask on the Gamecube).
Super Mario Bros 2 sales figures do not take into account the “Lost Levels” release of Super Mario 2 in Japan. Additionally, some outlets report Super Mario 2 sales to be 10 million, while others say 7.46 million. I found more consistency with the 7.46 million figure.
Some copies of some games (e.g. Super Mario 3) may have come bundled with the NES/SNES, but they would not have been anywhere near the volume of Mario 1s that were bundled due to the install base having already grown very large by the game’s release.
Twighlight Princess sales figures do not take into account the GameCube figures (around 1 million in sales). The game was released on the GameCube in the dying days of the system and I felt it would have overly skewed the results.
Sales figures for Breath of the Wild are not included for the Wii U.
Special Audio Note:
I have tinnitus, which prevents me from dialing in the audio as well as I would like. Please excuse any rough edges. I’m learning and adapting as best I can.
An in-depth analysis of the statistics behind the Mario and Zelda franchises over the last thirty years. Which franchise has most contributed to Nintendo’s success? Which franchise was more important during good times and bad times?
Bonus section at the end of the video discusses the trends in game length between the two franchises.
Methods - 1:11
Sales - 2:42
Attach Rates - 7:07
Context - 11:16
Conclusion - 14:59
Bonus (Game Length) - 15:42
References
Mario and Zelda game sales data pulled from a combination of the following sources:
vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/Mario
vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda
gamecubicle.com/features-mario-units_sold_sales.htm
Also an assortment of Wikipedia pages
Thanks to howlongtobeat.com for game length figures.
Notes
Sales figures do not include re-releases and repackages (e.g. Majora’s Mask on the Gamecube).
Super Mario Bros 2 sales figures do not take into account the “Lost Levels” release of Super Mario 2 in Japan. Additionally, some outlets report Super Mario 2 sales to be 10 million, while others say 7.46 million. I found more consistency with the 7.46 million figure.
Some copies of some games (e.g. Super Mario 3) may have come bundled with the NES/SNES, but they would not have been anywhere near the volume of Mario 1s that were bundled due to the install base having already grown very large by the game’s release.
Twighlight Princess sales figures do not take into account the GameCube figures (around 1 million in sales). The game was released on the GameCube in the dying days of the system and I felt it would have overly skewed the results.
Sales figures for Breath of the Wild are not included for the Wii U.
Special Audio Note:
I have tinnitus, which prevents me from dialing in the audio as well as I would like. Please excuse any rough edges. I’m learning and adapting as best I can.
