Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4 outsold Mario Kart World digitally on Nintendo Switch 2 in June 2025. Here’s how Toby Fox pulled it off—and what it means for indies on Nintendo’s new console.
Deltarune Just Outpaced Mario Kart in Digital Sales—Yes, Seriously
Plot twist: in its first full month on the Nintendo Switch 2, Deltarune—yes, that Deltarune—took the top spot on the eShop, edging out Mario Kart World in digital revenue for June 2025. That’s not just indie magic, that’s indie domination.
Developed by Toby Fox, the one-man dev wonder behind Undertale, Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4 launched day-and-date with the Switch 2. It was a bold move, and based on the numbers, an incredibly smart one.
Top 5 Nintendo Switch 2 Digital Games – June 2025
- Deltarune
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
- Mario Kart World
- Minecraft
- No Man’s Sky
Newzoo’s analysis shows that Toby Fox’s episodic RPG outpaced even Nintendo’s most consistent heavyweight, Mario Kart, at least in the digital realm. Let’s be clear: Mario Kart World still won in total unit sales thanks to physical copies—but that just makes Deltarune’s win even wilder, because it has no physical edition.
How Did Deltarune Pull This Off?
1. Perfect Launch Timing
Chapters 3 & 4 dropped the same day the Nintendo Switch 2 launched, meaning Deltarune was one of the first major titles new console owners could grab. No better way to break in new hardware than a fresh chunk of Toby Fox storytelling.
2. Built-in Hype from Years of Waiting
Chapter 1 dropped in 2018. Chapter 2? 2021. Fans have been starving for more lore, chaos, and spamton lore dumps ever since. The double-chapter drop was basically an RPG feast.
3. Switch 2 Exclusive Features
Fox teased a Switch 2-specific feature back in April—no full details yet, but it gave the game a boost in buzz right before launch. That’s classic Fox: drop hints, stir curiosity, profit.
What This Means for Indie Devs on Switch 2
Nintendo has long been infamous for spotlighting first-party content while third-party devs fight for scraps. But June’s digital stats tell a different story:
- No Man’s Sky and Cyberpunk 2077 also saw strong sales.
- Fantasy Life carved out a solid chunk of revenue.
- Cyberpunk, of all games, was the third best-selling game on the system overall when physical sales were added in.
Translation? The Switch 2 might actually be friendly to third-party and indie devs—at least if you time your release right, bring some unique sauce, and give Nintendo fans a reason to care.
Physical vs. Digital: The Mario Kart Asterisk
To be fair, Mario Kart World still sold more total units thanks to its physical edition (which Deltarune doesn’t have). One report even found Mario Kart World moved over 1 million copies in Japan alone. So yeah—Mario isn’t out here taking Ls. He’s just sharing the podium this time.
Still, the digital flex matters. It shows that download-only titles can go toe-to-toe with Nintendo’s golden geese if the momentum and execution are there.
Final Take: Don’t Underestimate Indie Hype
Deltarune’s digital win is proof that indie games—when done right—can absolutely dominate on a Nintendo platform, even against the company’s own iconic IPs. Whether you’re a Toby Fox diehard, a digital-only buyer, or just curious about what the Switch 2’s ecosystem is shaping up to be, this is big.
The real question now? How long can Deltarune hold the throne… and when the heck are we getting Chapter 5?
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