Nintendo's Switch-based fitness game still a ways away, fans of the iconic game are still looking forward to the release of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, a Dynasty Warriors-style prequel to Breath of the Wild that tells the story of the dreadful war that sets the stage for the events of the main game.
Ring Fit Adventure, meanwhile, is a much less prominent facet of the Switch's library, though compared to the huge acclaim of Breath of the Wild that's not saying much. The fitness game released in 2019 and featured a large hoop for players to squeeze and manipulate in order to complete various exercises. Surprisingly, the game also featured an in-depth story and deep RPG progression, which has left some fans craving a sequel. Ring Fit Adventure was a very well received game, and definitely one of Nintendo's better exercise-based offerings.
And apparently it did very well in Japan. VG247 reports that sales of the ring-based exercise game have now exceeded sales of Breath of the Wild. Famitsu's recent retail figures place Ring Fit Adventure sales at a grand total of 1,688,843 since it launched. Breath of the Wild's lifetime sales only reach 1,662,966. Ring Fit's success is owed partially to a very recent spike in sales. During the week of October 5-11th the fitness game moved 33,502 units, putting it in the 3rd place spot for game sales in Japan this week. It should be noted that these sales are exclusive to Japan; worldwide, Breath of the Wild has moved 18.6 million units while Ring Fit Adventure doesn't come anywhere close.
While it's hard to picture a fitness game beating out one of the most legendary games in recent memory, even in only one region, there are some clear factors contributing to its success. While Breath of the Wild is a phenomenal game by any metric, it's also three years old, and not seeing any DLC in recent months. Beyond the ittedly strong case of the game's own excellent quality, there's little incentive to buy it now if one doesn't already have it. Ring Fit Adventure, meanwhile, is exceptionally replayable, especially during COVID-19 lockdowns when people need a way to stay fit without leaving the house. A major update that released back in March gives players much more incentive to revisit it over time and incorporate it into an ongoing fitness regimen.
There are clearly no universal metrics for what makes a successful game. Ring Fit Adventure and Breath of the Wild have very little in common, but they've both seen very similar levels of success in Japan. Customers will always gravitate toward the games that suit them best, and while Zelda fans and RPG players alike rejoiced at the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, millions of casual fitness fans were just as excited about Ring Fit Adventure.
Source: VG247
