Scarlet/Violet Sales Surge Past Red/Green/Blue, Despite Mixed Reviews

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have set a new benchmark as some of the best-selling Pokémon games of all time. According to Joe Merrick, the webmaster of Serebii.net, and reported by Eurogamer, these titles have surpassed 25 million copies sold. This impressive figure positions them as the highest-selling Pokémon games since the original Pokémon Red/Green/Blue, which sold 31.4 million copies upon its release on the Game Boy in 1996.

With sales reaching 26,790,000 units, Pokémon Scarlet/Violet have just edged out Pokémon Sword/Shield, which sold 26,720,000 copies, to claim the second spot on the list of top-selling Pokémon games. Rounding out the top five are Pokémon Gold/Silver with 23.7 million copies sold, and Pokémon Diamond/Pearl with 16.7 million units sold.

Upon their release, Pokémon Scarlet/Violet received a mixed reception, garnering scores that placed them among the lowest-rated mainline Pokémon games. Fans cited technical issues, performance problems, and bugs as major concerns. In IGN's Pokémon Scarlet and Violet review, the game was described as "Okay," receiving a score of 6/10. The review highlighted the open-world gameplay as a promising step forward for the franchise but criticized the game for feeling "deeply unfinished."

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