Pokémon Video Game statistics 2026: Sales & records
The Pokémon video game franchise has shipped over 515 million units (March 2026). Scarlet & Violet reached 28.28 million on Switch.
The Pokémon video game franchise is the second best-selling video game series of all time behind Super Mario. As of March 31, 2026, The Pokémon Company reports over 515 million units shipped worldwide for Pokémon-related video game software (up from 489 million at March 2025). Nintendo reports 28.28 million cumulative units for Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet on Switch, and 12.79 million combined for Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 8.85M + Switch 2 Edition 3.94M) as of the same date.
Pokémon video game key statistics
- 515 million+ units shipped — Pokémon-related video game software (March 31, 2026, Pokémon Company).
- 489 million — as of March 2025 (+26 million in FY2026).
- 28.28 million — Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (March 31, 2026).
- 12.79 million — Pokémon Legends: Z-A combined (Switch 8.85M + Switch 2 Edition 3.94M, March 31, 2026).
- 27.16 million — Pokémon Sword and Shield (March 31, 2026).
Franchise sales
Pokémon has sold over 515 million video game units as of March 2026
- The Pokémon Company’s figures page lists over 515 million units shipped for all Pokémon-related video game software as of March 31, 2026.
- Up from 489 million as of March 2025 — a single-year gain of 26 million units.
- The 26 million added in FY2026 includes Pokémon Legends: Z-A (launched October 2025) and continued Scarlet/Violet sales.
Franchise sales milestones (Nintendo figures):
| Milestone | As of |
|---|---|
| 489 million | March 2025 |
| 515 million+ | March 2026 |
Best-selling Pokémon games
Pokémon Red and Blue remain the best-selling mainline entries at 31.38 million
| Game | Year | Platform | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Red / Blue / Green | 1996 | Game Boy | 31.38M (legacy figure) |
| Pokémon Scarlet / Violet | 2022 | Switch | 28.28M (Mar 2026) |
| Pokémon Sword / Shield | 2019 | Switch | 27.16M (Mar 2026) |
| Pokémon Gold / Silver | 1999 | Game Boy Color | 23.73M |
| Pokémon Diamond / Pearl | 2006 | DS | 17.67M |
| Pokémon Sun / Moon | 2016 | 3DS | 16.27M |
| Pokémon X / Y | 2013 | 3DS | 16.05M |
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Switch | 14.83M |
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A | 2025 | Switch + Switch 2 | 12.79M (Mar 2026) |
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet reached 28.28 million units on Switch (March 2026)
- Scarlet and Violet launched November 18, 2022 — Nintendo reported over 10 million units in the first three days (launch milestone).
- Nintendo reports 28.28 million cumulative worldwide units for Pokémon Scarlet / Pokémon Violet on Switch as of March 31, 2026 — second only to legacy Red/Blue/Green among Pokémon titles.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A — 12.79 million combined on Switch and Switch 2 (March 2026)
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A launched October 16, 2025 on Switch and Switch 2.
- As of March 31, 2026: 8.85 million on Switch and 3.94 million for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (12.79 million combined sell-through).
Pokémon historical milestones
- February 1996Pokémon Red and Green launch in Japan (Game Boy).
- 1998Western launch of Pokémon Red and Blue; franchise becomes global phenomenon.
- 1999 copiesPokémon Gold and Silver; 23.73M.
- 2016 downloadsPokémon GO launches; 500M+.
- 2019Pokémon Sword and Shield; Nintendo’s biggest launch of that year.
- November 2022Pokémon Scarlet and Violet; Nintendo’s biggest 3-day launch ever at 10M.
- 2022 unitsFranchise crosses 440 million game.
- March 2025Franchise crosses 489 million game units.
- October 2025Pokémon Legends: Z-A launches simultaneously on Switch and Switch 2.
- March 2026Franchise 515 million+ game shipments (Pokémon Company); Scarlet/Violet 28.28M; Legends: Z-A 12.79M.