You simply can't sell 9.45m without broad appeal. As for competition, just look up 3DS top sellers, heavy hitters abound; Pokemon, 2D and 3D Mario, Monster Hunter, Animal Crossing, Dragon Quest, KIngdom Hearts, Fire Emblem...

The idea that people only buy cos they're "no competition" is laughable. If they didn't want it, they wouldn't buy it by the millions.

Yes you can. How are you comparing Mario Kart to Pokemon? There is no racing equivalent on the DS, or the Wii etc. They want a racing game, and there is only one option. If Mario Kart was so loved, why did the GC and N64 tank? The only idea that is laughable is thinking Animal Crossing is competition to Mario kart!

Anything that gamers might choose to buy instead is competition, even if it's in a different genre. And N64 didn't tank, it was a moderate success. GC undermined the core appeal of MK by overcomplicating it.

Sorry, but Mario Kart is widely loved. The numbers prove it.

Who the fuck goes out wanting Pikachu and comes back with a karting game!?

People go out shopping without a prefixed idea of what they are getting or want specifically all the time.

Keep clutching at straws buddy - you can't call Pokemon competition to Mario Kart, that's insane as the games are not comparable at all. Mario Kart only sells because there is no competition and people want a social racer. Well, "wanted". Considering how karting games didn't take off on any of the other consoles I think it's easy enough to say that only Nintendo fans want a karting game, everyone else wants anything else whether it's CoD or Forza.

Make any excuse you want, your denial can't change the fact that in 7 entries across 7 platforms and 22 years, Mario Kart has never sold less than 5.4 million. Whether you like it or not, they are widely loved and desired games.