Nintendo’s Switch 2 was the best-selling console in the U.S. in March, riding a wave of popularity triggered by the release of surprise hit Pokemon Pokopia.

Americans spent $500 million on gaming hardware last month, a 69% annual increase, according to market researcher Circana. The Switch 2 led the way, topping hardware sales in both unit and dollar terms, and Pokopia was the primary driver, Circana’s Mat Piscatella said.

Since its debut in June, Nintendo’s new gaming platform has traded places with Sony Group’s PlayStation 5 atop U.S. sales charts. The American market is critical for both Japanese entertainment giants, and Sony’s resurgence in recent months has cast doubt over Nintendo’s ability to sustain the post-launch excitement for the new Switch. The smaller company from Kyoto has kept that momentum going with well-reviewed new titles.

Pokopia, an entry in a budding genre of what are known as cozy games that eschew leaderboards and time pressure — such as Nintendo’s Animal Crossing — swept to global success with little expectation ahead of its release.

The game powered Nintendo’s shares to a $14 billion rally in early March, after they had taken a beating due to concern around surging component costs.

Beyond games, Nintendo also enjoyed this year’s biggest cinematic opening with "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," a sequel to its 2023 feature-length Mario adventure. Over the long Easter weekend, it helped set a new all-time revenue record for century-old AMC Entertainment Holdings and fueled merchandise sales for the timeless Nintendo character.