A surprising Switch title is outpacing classic Nintendo franchises in popularity.

Even before its launch, it was evident that the quirky life simulation game Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream was poised to be a hit on the Switch. What took everyone by surprise was just how well this slice-of-life title would perform. The latest entry in the Tomodachi series not only thrived on Nintendo’s previous platform but also surpassed several major franchises on the Switch 2.

According to the latest financial report, Tomodachi Life has sold an impressive 7.96 million units on the Nintendo Switch. In comparison, other titles released for the Switch 2 in 2026, such as Star Fox and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, have each sold fewer than 1 million copies. The popular Pokémon Pokopia has managed to sell at least 3.6 million copies as of early June, but this figure does not account for Japanese sales, which are reported separately. Even with that limitation, Pokopia still ranks among the top five best-selling games on the Switch 2.

Current sales data indicates that Living the Dream has outperformed several established franchises combined, all while technically being on an older platform. It’s worth noting that some players may have experienced the latest Tomodachi game on the newer console, as it is backwards compatible. While the latest sales figures haven’t been updated on Nintendo’s site, the report suggests that Tomodachi Life is outshining many recent releases on the Switch 2, despite its launch on an earlier platform.

Players who engaged with the 2026 Nintendo exclusive might not be surprised by its success. The game allows players to create custom Mii characters that interact in absurd and entertaining ways, leading to moments that are perfect for social media sharing. Surprisingly, the game is quite permissive for a Nintendo title, allowing players to populate their Tomodachi island with content that would typically be filtered or banned on most platforms. Instead of devolving into chaos, this lack of censorship has helped Tomodachi Life stand out in a crowded field of classic video game franchises.

Correction: This article has been edited to clarify that Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is a Nintendo Switch release, not a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.

Nintendo’s fiscal year starts off on the right foot.