Although the Switch proves that Nintendo is still capable of making a great product, a lot of the company’s appeal lies with nostalgia. The Big N has put out so many fantastic games and systems since the ’80s that it would be foolish not to capitalize on the childhood memories they’ve been a part of. And that’s precisely what they did when they introduced the NES Classic in 2016, the famous miniature version of their Nintendo Entertainment System. It was so popular that stores had a hard time keeping it in stock, and now, two years later, it’s still thriving: In June, it was the best-selling video game console in the United States, earning more sales than the PS4, Xbox One, and the Switch (via Boing Boing).
Video games industry analyst Mat Piscatella wrote on Twitter, “The NES Classic was June 2018’s highest unit-selling hardware platform, while the PlayStation 4 led the market in dollar sales. This is the first time a Nintendo Entertainment System console has led in monthly unit sales since [market research company NPD] tracking began in 1995.”
How did this happen? The way I see it, there are a few primary factors at play. The Switch is thriving and has gamers more excited about Nintendo than they’ve been in years, especially following the relative flop of the Wii U. With such good vibes encircling the Nintendo scene these days, the thought of dropping $60, i.e. the price of one Switch game, on a NES Classic and exploring the company’s esteemed back catalogue seems like a pretty low-risk, high-reward investment. Lastly, nostalgia is always en vogue, and the NES Classic is a facsimile (albeit shrunk down) of an ’80s icon, so again, buying is a bit of a no-brainer.
Do you have a NES Classic? What’s your favorite game on it? Let us know down in the comments?
Featured image: Nintendo
