Conina said:
Microsoft is known to launch most of their biggest Xbox games in the second half of the year... but Nintendo? |
I dont think that's a very good way to measure, to me it makes more sense to compare the titles in an individual year rather than just looking at the top 40 spanning 35 years. Also I think it makes more sense to look at recent trends because things can change from one generation to the next. So let's take a look at Switch.
Criteria
Small-under 1 million
Moderate-over 1 million
Big-over 5 million
Huge-over 10 million
2017
March-Zelda: Breath of the Wild/1-2 Switch
April-Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
May-nothing
June-ARMS
July-Splatoon 2
Aug-Mario+Rabbids
Sept-nothing
Oct-Fire Emblem Warriors/Mario Odyssey
Know-nothing
Dec-Xenoblade 2
2017 had 1 huge hit each quarter with 1 or 2 moderate hits to accompany them. About as well rounded as it gets.
2018
Jan-nothing
February-Bayonetta 2
March-Kirby: Star Allies
April-Labo Variety/Robot
May-DKC: Tropical Freeze/Hyrule Warriors
June-Mario Tennis: Aces
July-Octopath Traveler
Aug-nothing
Sept-Xenoblade: Torna/Labo Vehicle
Oct-Super Mario Party
Nov-Pokemon Let's Go
Dec-Smash Bros Ultimate
2018 had a handful of small-moderate sellers in the first 3 quarters followed by 3 huge hits in the final quarter.
2019
Jan-NSMBU Deluxe
Feb-nothing
March-Yoshi's Crafted World
April-Labo VR
May-nothing
June-Super Mario Maker
July-Marvel Alliance 3/Fire Emblem: 3 Houses
Aug-Astral Chain
Sept-Zelda: Link's Awakening
Oct-Ring Fit Adventure/Luigi's Mansion 3
Nov-Pokemon Sword/Shield
2019 had a few moderate-big hits in the first half followed by a few moderate-big hits and a couple huge hits in the 2nd half.
2017 had an even mix but that could be simply because they needed to make sure it got off to a great start while 2018 was the opposite where the biggest titles were all concentrated around the holidays and 2019 wasnt as extreme as 2018 but still was more concentrated around the 2nd half of the year, especially when you consider Mario Maker released in the last week of the 1st half.
When the herd loses its way, the shepard must kill the bull that leads them astray.