Pokémon Legends: Z-A Shatters US Retail Records Since Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Pokémon Legends: Z-A has officially taken the gaming world by storm, marking one of the biggest retail launches in recent memory. According to data from Circana, the latest Pokémon entry delivered the most successful U.S.

retail debut since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom back in May 2023. In its first week alone, Pokémon Legends: Z-A moved an impressive 5.8 million copies globally, reinforcing Nintendo’s unmatched dominance in physical game sales.

Mat Piscatella, Circana’s Senior Director and a long-time industry analyst, described the title’s U.S. performance as ‘massive,’ highlighting that its launch-week physical sales outpaced every other new game in the last two and a half years. While the industry continues to shift toward digital platforms, especially among PlayStation and Xbox users, the Nintendo audience remains deeply rooted in collecting tangible cartridges and physical boxes – something that still defines the Switch ecosystem.

In contrast, European markets saw a softer performance. According to The Game Business, which analyzed GSD sales data, Pokémon Legends: Z-A managed to dethrone EA’s Battlefield 6 from the number one spot but posted a 28% weaker debut compared to Pokémon Legends: Arceus in 2022. Arceus sold 6.5 million copies during its first week, making it a tough benchmark to surpass. Still, Z-A’s sales remain impressive, especially considering the growing fragmentation of the gaming landscape and the increasing dominance of digital distribution.

Despite slightly smaller numbers in Europe, critical and fan reception have been largely positive. Reviewers have praised the game for refining the franchise’s formula rather than reinventing it. As Wccftech’s Nathan Birch put it, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the most cohesive and thoughtfully designed Pokémon RPG of the HD era. While it trades the expansive exploration of Scarlet and Violet for a more compact but polished world, players have celebrated its fresh combat system, improved balance, and the sense that it could form a new blueprint for future Pokémon games.

Some fans, however, remain divided. A vocal minority on forums and social media have criticized the game’s structure and lack of innovation. Yet even skeptics acknowledge that Z-A shows a level of craftsmanship and refinement that many recent Pokémon titles have lacked. For long-time trainers, this entry may not be the boldest evolution – but it’s undoubtedly a confident and enjoyable step forward for the series.