Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have emerged as some of the best-selling titles in the Pokémon series, with impressive sales figures to back their popularity. According to Joe Merrick, the webmaster of Serebii.net, and as reported by Eurogamer, these games have collectively sold over 25 million copies. This remarkable sales number positions Scarlet and Violet as the top-selling Pokémon games since the iconic Pokémon Red/Green/Blue, which sold 31.4 million copies upon its release on the Game Boy in 1996.
In terms of sales, Scarlet/Violet narrowly surpass Pokémon Sword/Shield, which have sold 26,720,000 copies, securing the second spot on the list of best-selling Pokémon games. Following closely, Pokémon Gold/Silver and Diamond/Pearl complete the top five, with sales figures of 23.7 million and 16.7 million copies, respectively.
Despite their commercial success, the launch of Scarlet/Violet was met with a mixed reception. Critics and fans alike noted technical issues, performance problems, and bugs, leading to the games receiving some of the lowest scores among mainline Pokémon titles. In IGN's review of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the games were rated 6/10, with the reviewer commenting, "The open-world gameplay of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a brilliant direction for the future of the franchise, but this promising shift is sabotaged by the numerous ways in which Scarlet and Violet feel deeply unfinished."
Looking ahead, fans can anticipate the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A later this year. Set in Lumiose City, this upcoming title will explore an urban redevelopment plan aimed at creating a harmonious environment for both people and Pokémon. However, excitement surrounding Legends: Z-A has been somewhat overshadowed by a leak last October that revealed unknown information about various Pokémon games, including Legends: Z-A. In response, Nintendo has taken legal action by subpoenaing Discord to identify the individual behind the "TeraLeak."