Pokemon Legends: Z-A Dominates Japanese Game Sales Amid Strong Launch on Nintendo Switch

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Dominates Japanese Sales Charts on Nintendo Switch Nintendo's latest release, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, is taking Japan by storm, clinching the top position in the country’s weekly software sales rankings.

According to the most recent data released by Famitsu, Pokemon Legends: Z-A for the Nintendo Switch saw an impressive debut, selling 872,552 units at launch, underscoring the franchise’s enduring popularity and Nintendo's prowess in the console market. In addition to its standard Nintendo Switch release, Pokemon Legends: Z-A also launched a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, which itself moved a notable 612,905 units.

This dual-platform performance signals strong demand across both current and next-generation hardware, reinforcing the significance of cross-generation releases for major franchises.

Nintendo’s strategy of simultaneous launches on the Switch and its successor continues to pay off, amplifying Pokemon’s reach among dedicated fans and new adopters of the Nintendo Switch 2. Other Nintendo titles also performed exceptionally this week.

Mario Kart World for Nintendo Switch 2 maintained robust momentum, adding 55,996 sales to its lifetime total of 1,931,393 copies.

Meanwhile, the re-release package of Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 for Nintendo Switch attracted 11,129 buyers, bringing its cumulative sales to 79,477.

Donkey Kong Bananza, another highlight for Nintendo Switch 2, recorded first-week sales of 7,967, showcasing the ongoing demand for Nintendo’s classic platforming franchises. Third-party and multiplatform titles also made a mark, with Ghost of Yotei on PlayStation 5 selling 18,930 copies, and Little Nightmares 3 continuing to see interest on both Sony and Nintendo platforms.

Minecraft for Nintendo Switch demonstrated enduring appeal, crossing a remarkable 4 million sold units in Japan alone, while Animal Crossing: New Horizons added nearly 4,000 copies to its staggering total of over 8.2 million sales. A spokesperson from Famitsu, the publisher of these figures, emphasized the strong performance of Nintendo’s latest releases, noting that Pokemon Legends: Z-A exhibited one of the year’s most robust launches.

The statement highlights how Nintendo franchises continue to drive significant sales momentum in the Japanese market, even as new hardware generations emerge. Looking across the chart, classic franchises like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate remain persistent sellers, while recent releases, such as Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles and Digimon Story: Time Stranger, posted steady numbers across platforms.

Notably, Nintendo titles consistently dominated the top tiers of the sales rankings, confirming the platform’s prominence in Japan’s gaming landscape. The full software sales ranking, provided by Famitsu, offers detailed insight into Japan’s dynamic games market and reaffirms Nintendo’s continued success.

For a deeper analysis of ongoing trends and historical charts, visit Famitsu’s comprehensive database.

Pokémon Nintendo Switch Nintendo Japan Switch Pokemon Pokemon Legends: Z-A Z Legends: Z-A Pokemon Legends Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Donkey Kong Bananza Famitsu