Pokémon Legends: Z-A Leads UK Boxed Charts Amidst Slower European Launch on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2

Pokémon Legends: Z-A has once again dominated the UK boxed game charts this week, continuing its impressive streak since debuting for both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the latest mainline entry in the storied Pokémon franchise remains the top seller in physical retail, reflecting the enduring popularity of the series across multiple generations of Nintendo hardware. Despite leading the UK boxed charts for a second consecutive week, recent data compiled by GfK and highlighted by Chris Dring of The Game Business reveals a nuanced sales picture, particularly in Europe.

According to Dring, Pokémon Legends: Z-A's initial launch sales across Europe are approximately 28% lower than the franchise's prior release, Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Even more notably, Dring points out that this represents the smallest retail debut for a mainline Pokémon title since Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! released in 2018. One contributing factor cited by analysts is the platform split between the established Nintendo Switch—with a massive install base exceeding 150 million units—and the newer Switch 2.

While Pokémon Legends: Z-A has benefited from a robust push on the Switch 2, its overall sales there are naturally limited by the current install base size.

Platform breakdowns show that the original Switch accounts for 61% of Pokémon Legends: Z-A's boxed sales, with Switch 2 contributing the remaining 39% since the game's launch on October 16. The UK gaming retail market also saw several new releases this week, including Jurassic World: Evolution 3, Ninja Gaiden 4, The Outer Worlds 2, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, and Tormented Souls 2.

However, none of these new arrivals have managed to break into the upper echelons of the chart in terms of boxed sales.

The dominance of Nintendo-developed and -published titles is further underscored by the presence of five Switch or Switch 2 games in the top ten, including Mario Kart World, Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2, Minecraft, and Donkey Kong Bananza. Digital sales, as always, tell a different story, but current retail numbers reflect the continued strength of Nintendo's portfolio in traditional storefronts.

The broader list of top 40 UK boxed titles includes multi-platform heavy-hitters like EA Sports FC 26, Battlefield 6, and Grand Theft Auto V, but Nintendo's platforms remain competitive, driven largely by first-party exclusives. Pokémon Legends: Z-A's performance serves as a strong testament to Game Freak's ability to engage fans, even as the European retail landscape becomes increasingly digital and somewhat fragmented by new hardware launches.

Despite a smaller launch compared to previous mainline entries, the combination of enduring franchise appeal and strategic backing from Nintendo is likely to keep Legends: Z-A near the top of the charts for weeks to come. With GfK's tracked sales figures and a continued focus on expanding the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 install base, industry observers will be closely watching the next phases of Pokémon Legends: Z-A's commercial journey.

Nintendo Switch 2 Pokémon Nintendo Switch Nintendo Europe Switch 2 Switch Pokémon Legends: Z-A UK Z Pokémon Legends Legends: Z-A Game Freak GfK Pokémon Legends: Arceus Chris Dring The Game Business UK boxed charts