Pokémon Legends: Z-A has done what few games have managed in years. It just became the biggest physical game launch in the US since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in 2023. That’s not just another sales stat. It’s proof that Pokémon is still one of the few franchises that can stop the gaming world in its tracks. Personally, I always felt that Tears of the Kingdom would remain unbeaten for a long long time, but what I definitely did not have on my bingo book was Pokemon pulling off a stunner like this.
Mat Piscatella from Circana confirmed that Z-A topped both unit and dollar sales in its first week. That means more people spent more money on this title than on any other new game release in two years. And this is only counting physical copies.
What makes this stat even more impressive is what’s missing from those numbers. The sales don’t include Nintendo Switch 2 bundles that come with a digital copy of Z-A. Those bundles are flying off shelves. Add that in, and the total is easily higher than what retail trackers show.
Nintendo already said the game sold 5.8 million copies in its first week, counting both digital and physical. That’s massive, even if it’s shy of Zelda’s 10 million copies in three days. But no one expected Pokémon to hit those numbers. Zelda was a cultural moment. Z-A didn’t need to match it. It just needed to prove that Pokémon can still pull global attention. And it did.
What’s driving this success? It’s a mix of nostalgia and smart updates. Pokémon Legends: Z-A takes what fans love about the series and gives it a new coat of paint. The exploration feels more open. The visuals finally look modern. The story has more weight. And yet, it still feels like classic Pokémon. It respects what came before without getting stuck there.
The new game format is another big reason people are hooked. It’s not the usual “gym-to-gym” journey. Instead, it’s more about exploration, discovery, and connecting with the world around you. It’s clear Nintendo is testing what works for the next phase of Pokémon. Fans seem to like it.
This success says something bigger about Nintendo’s strategy. While other studios chase massive budgets and cinematic storytelling, Nintendo stays grounded. It focuses on fun, replayable gameplay and characters people care about. It’s a reminder that charm and creativity still sell just as much as realism and scale.
It’s also a strong start for the Switch 2 era. If this is the kind of launch the new console can drive, the next few years could be very strong for Nintendo. The company doesn’t rush hardware or games, but when it moves, it makes an impact.
Z-A’s success could influence what comes next. We might see more open-world Pokémon titles. Maybe even spin-offs that experiment with tone and setting. What’s clear is that the audience is ready for evolution, not revolution.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A proves that Nintendo can still balance its history with innovation. It’s not trying to be the biggest or flashiest game out there. It just delivers what players want: fun, nostalgia, and a reason to keep exploring. And in today’s crowded market, that’s what makes it stand out.
