Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have emerged as some of the best-selling Pokémon games of all time. According to Joe Merrick, the webmaster of Serebii.net, and reported by Eurogamer, the combined sales of these two titles have surpassed 25 million copies. This impressive figure places them just behind the iconic Pokémon Red/Green/Blue, which sold 31.4 million copies upon its release in 1996 for the Game Boy.
Scarlet and Violet's sales total of 26,790,000 units narrowly outpaces Pokémon Sword and Shield, which achieved 26,720,000 sales, securing the second spot. The top five best-selling Pokémon games are rounded out by Pokémon Gold and Silver with 23.7 million sales, and Pokémon Diamond and Pearl with 16.7 million sales.
Despite their commercial success, Scarlet and Violet received a mixed reception at launch, with reviews averaging on the lower end for mainline Pokémon games. Players and critics alike noted significant technical issues, performance problems, and bugs. IGN's review of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet gave the game a 6/10, describing it as "Okay," and stated, "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 the bustling Lumiose City. This new installment focuses on an urban redevelopment plan aimed at creating a harmonious environment for both people and Pokémon. However, excitement for the upcoming game was marred by a leak last October, which disclosed 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."
