The original Switch is officially Nintendo’s best-selling console of all time after surpassing the DS handheld in lifetime sales. In its latest earnings release, Nintendo reports that the Nintendo Switch has, as of December 31, 2025, sold 155.37 million units since its launch in 2017, compared to 154.02 million units for the 2004 Nintendo DS.
Definitely felt like everyone had one. Nintendogs, Cooking Mama, just something basic PictoChat were all super popular. I felt like Diamond and Pearl were really hyped up. The power of casual games and local multiplayer made the DS so much more popular than hardcore home console and PC gamers ever recognized. I imagine the Switch being the only console to be as much of a menace in the classroom for teachers as the DS was