Updated on October 31, 11:56 a.m. (GMT+8): Improved relevancy.
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In 1996, developers Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures released a video game that forever changed the world — Pokemon.
Pokemon, short for “Pocket Monsters”, is a video game franchise that features fictional creatures that draw inspiration from objects and animals in real life. These Pokemon are equipped with powerful abilities used in trainer and gym battles, and are also used to fighting and collecting other Pokemon in the wild.
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Since its release, Pokemon has become one of the most popular games of all time, with over 100 titles available on mobile, PC, console, and more. The game has been adapted into different forms of media throughout its 27-year history, led by protagonists Ash Ketchum and his best friend, Pikachu.
The anime adaptation concluded in March 2023 after 25 years of airing: Ash finally achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a Pokemon champion after he defeated Galar’s Leon, which marks the end of his Pokemon journey.
While it took Ash over two decades to achieve this feat, it only takes a few days for players to claim the title of Pokemon champion in the video game franchise.
Curious to know what’s the best-selling Pokemon game of all time? Here is a list of the top 10 Pokemon games ranked from the least to the most units sold.
The 10 best-selling Pokemon games of all time, ranked according to units sold
10. Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!
9. Pokemon Black and White
8. Pokemon Sun and Moon
7. Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire
6. Pokemon X and Y
5. Pokemon Diamond and Pearl
4. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
3. Pokemon Gold and Silver
2. Pokemon Sword and Shield
1. Pokemon Red and Blue
10. Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!
Year released: 2018
Units sold: 15.07 million
These two Nintendo Switch games are remakes of Pokemon Yellow, designed for new players of the franchise.
Released two years after Pokemon Go, Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee incorporated mechanics from the augmented reality (AR) game. Both Let’s Go games feature a simpler system to capture Pokemon where players use motion controllers to throw accurately-timed Pokeballs, similar to Pokemon Go’s core gameplay.
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Another thing that’s different about these Let’s Go games is their starter Pokemon: players can only choose between Pikachu and Eevee, depending on the version.
9. Pokemon Black and White
Year released: 2010
Units sold: 15.64 million
Just like a handful of other titles on this list, Pokemon Black and White follows a linear story where players train to become masters.
While it sounds like just another Pokemon game, the storyline of Black and White is regarded as one of the best in the series. It has a more mature and complex storyline compared to other Pokemon games, tackling themes of morality, truth, and the relationship between humans and Pokemon.
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Additionally, Pokemon Black and White also introduced 156 new Pokemon, which is the most number of new Pokemon introduced in a single game.
8. Pokemon Sun and Moon
Year released: 2016
Units sold: 16.18 million
Have you ever wondered if mutation exists in Pokemon? Versions Sun and Moon answered this question with the launch of Alolan forms.
Alolan forms are Pokemon that have adapted to the unique environment and conditions of the Alola region, which is based on the real-world location of Hawaii.
RELIVE YOUR CHILDHOOD: Pokemon The Series : Sun and Moon – Ultra Adventures Complete Collection (DVD) |
For example, Alolan Vulpix is an Ice-type Pokemon, while the regular Vulpix is a Fire-type. This is because the Alolan Vulpix has adapted to the snowy climate of the Alola region, while the regular Vulpix is more suited to a warmer climate.
7. Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire
Year released: 2002
Units sold: 16.22 million
One of the most memorable things in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire is its secret base feature, where players had the opportunity to design and furnish their own space.
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Away from the pressures of trainer battles, these hang-out spots encouraged players to let their creative juices flow and reminded them that there’s a life outside capturing Pokemon.
6. Pokemon X and Y
Year released: 2013
Units sold: 16.45 million
Pokemon X and Y introduced the first-ever legendary Fairy-type Pokemon, Xerneas. With its majestic stag-like appearance and brilliantly colored antlers that radiate in battle, Xerneas captivated players’ imaginations like no other legendary before it.
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In addition to introducing Xerneas and Yveltal, X and Y also marked the debut of the Fairy type. The first new type added to the series since the introduction of Steel and Dark in Pokemon Gold and Silver, the Fairy type brought a new level of balance to the battle system and added a host of new strategies for trainers to master.
5. Pokemon Diamond and Pearl
Year released: 2006
Units sold: 17.67 million
Trainers once dreamed they could trade Pokemon freely with anyone around the globe, without worrying about proximity or the need for a special cable. Like Jirachi, Diamond and Pearl granted everyone’s wishes through the Nintendo DS Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (NWFC).
WATCH THE SERIES TODAY: Pokemon the Series: Diamond and Pearl |
The service enabled players to talk through voice chat, trade, and battle online — a breakthrough in Pokemon gaming in 2006.
4. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Year released: 2022
Units sold: 20.61 million
If your future self had traveled back in time to meet your 10-year-old self and told you that trainers could ride legendary Pokemon as motorcycles in 2022, you likely would not have believed them.
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This is just one of the most exciting features of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Unlike previous versions, Scarlet and Violet’s plot and gameplay are nonlinear. Players can choose to engage in three different stories and explore the world at their own time and pace.
Further keeping it fresh for fans of the video game franchise, Scarlet and Violet also introduced the Terastal Phenomenon. This mechanic lets Pokemon adopt a new, crystallized appearance and increase the damage they deal to enemies.
A BATTLE OF LEGENDS: Pokemon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages |
3. Pokemon Gold and Silver
Year released: 1999
Units sold: 23.73 million
Gold and Silver were miles ahead of their predecessors, Red and Blue, when it came to content, gameplay, and mechanics, making these two of the most popular Pokemon games in history.
Gold and Silver launched core gameplay mechanics that carried over to other games to this day, like breeding and shiny Pokemon.
Pokemon Gold and Silver had a profound impact on a whole generation of trainers, fostering an obsession with completing the Pokedex. These versions highly encouraged Game Boy Advance players to trade Pokemon via color link cables to collect and complete all of its 251 pocket monsters.
2. Pokemon Sword and Shield
Year released: 2019
Units sold: 25.68 million
Sword and Shield’s Wild Area revolutionized the gameplay of Pokemon in 2019. The feature introduced a massive, open-world area where players have full camera control, a first for the franchise.
Sword and Shield are also one of the fastest-selling games on the Nintendo Switch, having sold a record-breaking six million copies one week after their release in November 2019.
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The game is set in the Galar region which was inspired by the United Kingdom. It introduced 89 new Pokemon, including the corgi-like Yamper and the sheep-like Wooloo.
1. Pokemon Red and Blue
Year released: 1996
Units sold: 31.36 million
The very first installments of the Pokemon video game series are Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue versions.
A classic title on the Game Boy, these 8-bit games have been a part of almost every millennial’s childhood. Red and Blue introduced everyone to the wonderful world of Pokemon, with trainers starting their journey in Pallet Town in the Kanto Region.
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Together with their chosen starter Pokemon, players must defeat Gym leaders, collect a total of eight badges to enter the Indigo League, defeat the Elite Four, and, ultimately, become Pokemon champions.
Pokemon Red and Blue are not just the best-selling Pokemon games of all time, they are also the best-selling game in Game Boy with over 46 million combined units sold.
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