Switch’s Mario RPG remake has already comfortably outsold the original

Nintendo Switch’s Super Mario RPG remake comfortably outsold the original game after just over six weeks on sale.

In its latest financial results, Nintendo revealed that the Square Enix-developed title sold 3.14 million units as of December 31, 2024 (the game was released on November 17).

According to Japan’s Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA), the original Super Nintendo version of Mario RPG sold 2.14 million copies to date.

Super Nintendo’s install base reached around 49 million units, while Nintendo Switch has so far sold around 139 million. The original Mario RPG was not released in Europe.

It also means the Mario RPG remake is on its way to being the best-selling Mario role-playing game ever. Of known sales figures, only Switch’s Paper Mario: The Origami King (3.34m), Wii’s Super Paper Mario (4.32m) and DS’s Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (4.56m) have sold more.

The Mario RPG remake was developed by ArtePiazza, the Japanese studio known for its involvement in Square’s Dragon Quest series, as far back as Dragon Quest 3 in 1996. It was mostly responsible for CG design in early titles, and later, it produced remakes for PS2 and Nintendo DS.

Several of Mario RPG’s original development team are also credited as having worked on the new version, including event designer Taro Kudo, co-director Yoshihiko Maekawa, and composer Yoko Shimomura.

Square Enix’s involvement in Mario RPG for Switch was limited mainly to supervision.

In VGC’s Mario RPG Switch review, we wrote: “Mario RPG is one of the most lovingly crafted re-releases we can remember, where underneath the striking HD visuals, you can still see the brush strokes of its original creators. This is an adventure well worth experiencing for players old and new.”