Pokémon video games have been with us for more than 20 years. In this time, we have seen many of them reach different Nintendo consoles. They all offer us unparalleled adventures with a premise, which is usually always the same: go on an adventure to win the Pokémon League and complete the Pokédex during our journey.
During these two decades, the Pokémon games have evolved and have been introducing changes and novelties: better graphics, new ways to entertain ourselves, unpublished Pokémon to date, etc. But what have been the best-selling deliveries?
Next, we offer you a list of the best-selling Pokémon games in the main saga of the franchise, and we briefly explain what you can find in them.
1. Pokémon Red and Blue
- Pokémon Red and Blue
- Units sold: 31.38 million
- Year of release: 1996 (1999 in Europe)
- Platforms: Game Boy, Nintendo 3DS (eShop)
The first Pokémon games to hit the market remain top sellers. Pokémon Red and Blue were the beginning of a phenomenon and a feeling that are still as alive today as ever.
In them, we visit the Kanto region, which has places as mythical as the gloomy Lavender Town or the great Saffron City. Nor can we forget the mysterious Pokémon Mansion of Isla Canela, or the port Carmine City, where what is possibly the most famous Pokémon ship docks: the SS Anne.
In Pokémon Red and Blue we also had to stop the evil plans of Team Rocket, an organization that wanted to use Pokémon to take over the world. The fight against their leader, Giovanni, is one of the most memorable moments in the game. Also worth getting is the confrontation against the mighty Mewtwo in the Celestial Cave.
2. Pokémon Gold and Silver
- Pokémon Gold and Silver
- Units sold: 23.1 million
- Release year: 1999 (2001 in Europe)
- Platforms: Game Boy, Nintendo 3DS (eShop)
In Pokémon Gold and Silver we meet two legendary Pokémon that are exclusive to only one of the editions: Ho-Oh (Gold) and Lugia (Silver). We also have to foil the plans of Team Rocket again, who intend to get back to their old ways. Our rival in the game, whose name we can choose, turns out to be the son of Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket.
3. Pokémon Sword and Shield
- P okémon Sword and Shield
- Units sold: 18.2 million
- Release Year: 2019 (DLC in 2020)
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Breaking the streak that the oldest Pokémon games are the best sellers, in the third place of this classification we find Pokémon Sword and Shield, which are the last titles to go on sale and those that have started the eighth generation. In these games, we explore the Galar region, in which we find places like the huge Piston City and the Puntera City. We can also visit the magical Pueblo Plié, the quiet Pueblo Auriga or the coastal Pueblo Amura.
4. Diamond and Pearl Pokémon
- Diamond and Pearl Pokémon
- Units sold: 17.67 million
- Release year: 2006 (2007 in Europe)
- Platforms: Nintendo DS
5. Pokémon X / Y
- Pokémon X / Y
- Units sold: 16.45 million
- Release year: 2013
- Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
6. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
- Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
- Units sold: 16.22 million
- Year of release: 2002 (2003 in Europe)
- Platforms: Game Boy Advance
7. Pokémon Sun and Moon
- Pokemon sun and moon
- Units sold: 16.18 million
- Release year: 2016
- Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
8. Pokemon Black and White
- Pokemon Black and White
- Units sold: 15.64 million
- Year of release: 2010 (2011 in Europe)
- Platforms: Nintendo DS
9. Yellow Pokémon
- Pokémon Yellow
- Units sold: 14.64 million
- Release year: 1998 (2000 in Europe)
- Platforms: Game Boy, Nintendo 3DS (eShop)
10. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
- Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
- Units sold: 14.27 million
- Release year: 2014
- Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
11. Pokémon HeartGold Gold and SoulSilver Silver
- Pokémon HeartGold Gold and SoulSilver Silver
- Units sold: 12.72 million
- Year of release: 2009 (2010 in Europe)
- Platforms: Nintendo DS
12. Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee!
- Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee!
- Units sold: 12.03 million
- Release year: 2018
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
13. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Units sold: 12 million
- Release year: 2004
- Platforms: Game Boy Advance
14. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
- Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Pokémon
- Units sold: 8.77 million
- Release year: 2017
- Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
15. Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
- Units sold: 8.25 million
- Release year: 2012
- Platforms: Nintendo DS
16. Platinum Pokémon
- Platinum Pokémon
- Units sold: 7,693 million
- Release year: 2008 (2009 in Europe)
- Platforms: Nintendo DS
17. Pokémon Emerald
- Pokémon Emerald
- Units sold: 7.06 million
- Release year: 2004 (2005 in Europe)
- Platforms: Game Boy Advance
18. Crystal Pokémon
- Pokémon Crystal
- Units sold: 6.3 million
- Year of release: 2000 (2001 in Europe)
- Platforms: Game Boy Color, Nintendo 3DS (eShop)
And so far our journey through the list of the best-selling Pokémon games. For further updates, keep reading “ Nintendo inquirer”.