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Nintendo Switch tops US gaming systems for holiday shoppers

Nintendo 3DS hardware sales were also the strongest since December 2014.

Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
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  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
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Joshua Goldman
Sarah Tew/CNET

Looks like holiday shoppers went all-in on Mario and Link. 

According to NPD Group, which tracks US video game sales, 1.5 million Nintendo Switch systems were purchased during December -- more than any other video game system. With more than 4.8 million systems sold in the 10 months since its release, the Switch is the fastest-selling home console in US history.

The Japanese gaming giant also reported strong holiday sales for its portable 3DS hardware with more than 750,000 systems sold -- its best sales month since December 2014 -- and its retro Super NES Classic Edition console, which topped 2.6 million systems in the US for December.

The sales news follows on the heels of the company's announcement of Nintendo Labo cardboard creativity kits designed for use with the Switch. The kits let you construct things such as a toy fishing pole, a robot and even a working piano that adds a maker aspect to the gaming system.