Scarlet/Violet Sales Surpass All but Original Pokémon Games

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have emerged as some of the best-selling titles in the Pokémon franchise. According to Joe Merrick, the webmaster of Serebii.net, and reported by Eurogamer, these games have collectively surpassed 25 million units sold. This impressive figure places them just behind the original Pokémon Red/Green/Blue, which sold 31.4 million copies upon its release in 1996 for the Game Boy.

In terms of sales, Scarlet and Violet have edged out Pokémon Sword/Shield, which sold 26,720,000 copies, securing the second spot on the list of top-selling Pokémon games. The top five is rounded out by Gold/Silver with 23.7 million units sold and Diamond/Pearl with 16.7 million units.

Despite their commercial success, Scarlet and Violet received a mixed reception at launch, garnering average to mixed reviews. This has positioned them among the lower-rated mainline entries in the series, with criticisms focusing on technical issues, performance problems, and bugs. In IGN's Pokémon Scarlet and Violet review, the game was rated a 6/10, described as "Okay." The review praised the innovative open-world gameplay but criticized the game for feeling "deeply unfinished."

Looking ahead, fans can anticipate the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A later this year. Set in Lumiose City, this game will explore an urban redevelopment plan aimed at creating a harmonious environment for both humans and Pokémon. Last October, a leak surfaced online revealing unknown details about several Pokémon games, including Legends Z-A. In response, Nintendo has recently subpoenaed Discord to identify the individual responsible for the "TeraLeak."