Hello Fellow Gamer, Let‘s Break Down the eShop Charts

As a fellow Nintendo Switch owner, you may find yourself browsing the Nintendo eShop wondering – what games truly stand out from the crowded digital shelves? Which titles seem intriguing but lack exposure? The monthly sales charts offer guideposts amid the overload. As an experienced gaming industry analyst, I love examining the data to spot trends and emerging hits.

Come explore December 2022‘s eShop rankings with me across various lenses to highlight lessons for all types of gamers. Beyond the obvious evergreen Nintendo tentpoles, we can uncover upcoming series, seasonal darlings, and potential hidden gems.

First I‘ll overview how the eShop charts get calculated. Then we‘ll count down December‘s Top 10 downloads along with context on genres, reviews, and franchises. Comparing historic data spotlights trajectory standouts punching above their weight classes. I‘ll wrap up with unique insights from the digital exclusives list given physical retail limitations. My goal is equipping you to make better purchasing decisions while showcasing market diversity.

Let‘s dive in!

How Nintendo Compiles the eShop Charts

The Nintendo eShop first launched alongside the Nintendo Switch in March 2017 as the official portal for digital games and downloadable content. Players can directly purchase titles from their Switch devices to download directly to console storage rather than buying a physical game card. The eShop now houses over 4,000 games in a landmark milestone.

To measure popularity amid the vast catalog, Nintendo tracks Top 30 digital best-sellers by pure download units each week. The closing Week 52 report for December summarizes annual performance. Combining full-year sales indicates games with the highest overall commercial reception and recommendations.

What makes these eShop rankings valuable? They capture actual user purchase behavior rather than subjective opinions from reviews. They blend elements like franchise strength, pricing, genres, marketing buzz, platform advantages, and seasonal events into consumer reactions. Let‘s explore what games struck the right chords in December 2022.

December 2022 Top Ten eShop Downloads

I compiled December 2022‘s full end-year Nintendo eShop chart into the Top Ten highest grossing Switch games, ranked by total downloads:

Rank	Game	Genre	NA Metascore	Franchise
1	Pokémon Violet	RPG	84%	Pokémon
2	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe	Racing	92%	Mario Kart
3	Pokémon Scarlet	RPG	84%	Pokémon
4	FIFA 23 Legacy Edition	Sports	73%	FIFA
5	Super Mario 3D World + Bowser‘s Fury	Platformer	86%	Super Mario
6	Exorder	RPG	84%	New IP
7	Just Dance 2023 Edition	Music	N/A	Just Dance
8	Mario Party Superstars	Party	85%	Mario Party
9	Nintendo Switch Sports	Sports	77%	Nintendo Switch
10	Among Us	Deduction	N/A	Among Us

The variety proves impressive spanning dedicated gaming genres like roleplaying (RPGs), party, platformers, and sports. Franchise strength stands out as the dominant factor – both Mario and Pokémon secure multiple Top 10 entries thanks to highly-recognizable mascots and gameplay styles. Longstanding legacy converts to continued commercial relevance.

However, new challengers do emerge. Exorder‘s 6th place debut illustrates hungry audiences supporting fresh stories and worlds. The hero Yuran must tactically unify factions and defeat demons through turn-based combat and political alliances. Among Us likewise capitalized on viral popularity as friends sussed out imposters with deception and distrust.

Now let‘s pull some key takeaways from the individual game performances.

Pokémon Conquers All Comers

Pokémon Violet takes the crown by harnessing the franchise‘s eternally appealing monster collection hook now paired with fully open world exploration. Scarlet follows close behind at #3 as both moved over 10 million units digitally day one. The twin titles realize the long-awaited fully open adventure concept Pokémon fans desired for decades. Their record-smashing receptions reaffirm the brand‘s unmatched popularity after 25 years capturing fans. Developer GameFreak modernizes formulas by blending familiar creature capture thrills with upgraded visuals, multiplayer connectivity, and nonlinear freedom.

The technical stumbles and repetitive gameplay loops in both 2022 core series entries did moderately ding review scores. But muted critical reception hardly deterred sales velocity. Fan loyalty and multimedia cross-pollination sustains Pokémon as a commercial juggernaut generation after generation.

Mario Kart 8 DeluxeScores Pole Position

In second place, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe winning the checkered flag defies standard video game decay trajectories. Most titles rapidly plunge down sales charts after launch. Instead, Deluxe sold a whopping 10 million units in 2022 over five years after release as Japan‘s new national best-seller. Clever bundling of all previous DLC extras sustained value for delayed adopters. Local and online multiplayer ensures high replayability for mini-tournament showdowns with family or strangers. Lavish, inventive course design delivers gameplay perfection.

Nintendo‘s blue-chip mascot racing spinoff confirms the power of evergreen brands, especially those mastering local multiplayer revelry. Consistent post-launch support and gameplay refinements cultivate lasting player bases over hardware generations. Mario Kart‘s dependable fun finds new customization options and mechanics introducing novelty without alienating loyalists.

Seasonal Darlings Dazzle

Now smaller spotlights deserve celebration for December darlings punching above normal weight classes. Party music compilation Just Dance 2023 Edition swoops in at #7 across over 70 million franchise sales thanks to its celebratory escapism. Players mimic choreographed dance moves to upbeat hits across labels like Disney, Lady Gaga, and Kpop sensation BTS. The latest iteration ads 120 new songs with polished motion tracking. While lacking gameplay complexity, Just Dance sustains mass appeal as interactive dance floors endure as communal contemporary rituals.

Its family friendly foil Nintendo Switch Sports (#9) likewise rides holiday buzz by recreating living room Olympics. Simple motion games like bowling, soccer, and swordplay bridge generational gamer skill gaps when rotating the controllers. While lacking its Wii predecessor‘s cultural domination, Switch Sports strengths emerge for casual gaming gatherings and introducing gaming to new adopters. Its November launch lined up perfectly with seasonal social gatherings.

Surprises for eShop Exclusives

The full eShop list additionally indicates gems with more limited physical retail circulation. Let‘s examine the Top 10 downloads exclusive to digital-only distribution:

Rank	Game	Genre	Developer
1	Exorder	RPG	Solo Developer
2	Among Us	Deduction	InnerSloth
3	Stardew Valley	Simulation	ConcernedApe
4	The Last Campfire	Adventure	Hello Games
5	Disney Dreamlight Valley	Life Sim	Gameloft
6	Arcade Archives Vs. Super Mario Bros.	Platformer	Nintendo
7	Cult of the Lamb	Rogue-like	Massive Monster
8	Contra Anniversary Collection	Shooter	Konami
9	Inside	Puzzler	PlayDead
10	Hollow Knight	Metroidvania	Team Cherry

Several trends stand out that benefit smaller developers. Genres with lower technical budgets thrive like puzzle games Inside, roleplaying Exorder, and retro shooter Contra Anniversary Collection. Artistically stunning indies attract loyal niche crowds enraptured by unique visions like Hollow Knight.

Consumers welcome more experimental genre mashups outside of mainstream trends on the eShop. Rogue-lites like the occult lamb management sim Cult of the Lamb enchant players through left field premises and tightly tuned run-based progression systems. Charming farming life sim Stardew Valley sustains steady sales by optimizing relaxation escapism. Massive IPs like Disney cultivate their universes via games like the family friendly social sandbox Dreamlight Valley.

The eShop fosters more risk-taking experiments than physical retailers constrained by shelf space and sales guarantees. Digital analytics assist matching product to segment with reduced manufacturing barriers. Developers earn larger profit percentages which funds future projects. Nintendo courts exclusives through indie collaborations and platform advantages like portability for easy play session mobility. While install bases trail other consoles, the addressable market keeps expanding.

Key December eShop Takeaways

Reflecting across the spectrum of December 2022 eShop charts and historically supplies meaningful insights:

• Flagship Nintendo IP sustains impressive sales momentum years post-launch thanks to polished gameplay and brand strength

• Peak holiday discounts on acclaimed niche indies enables discovery through lower financial risk

• eShop exclusives thrive on smaller scales from higher revenue shares and lower volatility

• Charming concepts, experimental genres, and visually stunning artistry resonates

While PlayStation and Xbox consoles target technical showcases, Nintendo sustains mass market success through evergreen IP fortified by constant software innovations. Mainstays like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe cement greatest of all time status years later supported by value-retaining updates. Both indie and major studios tailor experiences to leverage Nintendo‘s unique portability, accessibility and pop culture history.

The eShop charts confirm the Switch’s flexibility across various gaming motivations. Franchise titans Pokémon and Mario seduce loyalists with trusted formulas evolutionized just enough to entice returns. Meanwhile quick-hit party games rally gatherings through familiar live play re-creation. Hungry players find manifold options suiting moods thanks to indie risk-takers stretching concepts. Consumption explosions around seasonal discounts lead frugal gamers to hidden portfolio gems.

Hopefully diving into the December sales rankings helps direct fellow Nintendo Switch owners toward worthwhile game investments! Let me know which eShop titles caught your attention across the charts. Perhaps we double down on overlooked experiences worth celebrating? Maybe you discovered helpful factors or ¶franchises I overlooked. I‘m open to chart hopping together again next month once January closes. Enjoy the recommendations and happy gaming!