"Nintendo users only buy Nintendo games on Nintendo systems" How true was this?

[The_Liquid_Laser]

There are two realities that need to be acknowledged whenever this topic is brought up.

1.  Nintendo is and essentially always has been the top software publisher in the video game industry.  This was true starting in the mid-80's, and it's still true today.  

2.  In spite of #1, Nintendo hardware doesn't sell well unless it has a good quantity of third party games.  These don't have to be AAA games, but there has to be other games there to fill in the gaps between major releases.  Usually Nintendo releases 1-3 major games every year.  If those are the only games on the system, then it feels like there are software droughts where the Nintendo system owner feels like there is nothing to play. 

Many Nintendo games have broad appeal like Mario Kart, Zelda or Pokemon.  That's why they sell a lot.  People play the other games, but they tend to appeal to more specific niches.  Some people really like Octopath Traveler and others really like Stardew Valley (for example), and there are tons of other high quality games that appeal to more niche tastes.  These games really help fill out the game library of a Nintendo system even if they aren't mega sellers like Mario Kart.

What people really want when they buy a Nintendo system is major first party releases supported by a large quantity of third party games.  This is what made the NES successful and this strategy has been present on every Nintendo system that has sold at least as well as the SNES.  Yeah, major Nintendo games sell a lot, because the games are that high quality and popular.  Third party games could sell well on a Nintendo system too if they were high quality and popular.  Monster Hunter Rise, Street Fighter II, Just Dance and most Dragon Quest games have sold really well on Nintendo systems.  However, most third party games end up filling a niche roll and are still successful relative to their budget, but they don't usually compare to major Nintendo releases.