A new study has revealed which Pokémon games have generated the most revenue since the franchise began in 1996 — and the results might not surprise mobile players.
According to research conducted by cryptocurrency exchange platform ChicksX, Pokémon GO sits comfortably at the top of the revenue charts, having generated a staggering $9.8 billion since launching in 2016.
The study analysed estimated earnings across the entire Pokémon video game catalogue, spanning mainline entries, remakes, and spin-offs, to determine which titles have been the most financially successful.
Pokémon GO Leads by a Massive Margin
Despite being free to play, Pokémon GO has generated $9,811,000,000 in gross revenue, making it the highest-earning Pokémon game ever released. In-game purchases — from raid passes to event tickets and boosted shiny encounters — have fuelled its ongoing success.
The mobile title has reportedly surpassed 500 million downloads worldwide since release, proving that the augmented reality spin-off remains one of the franchise’s most profitable ventures.
Interestingly, the report highlights that Pokémon GO alone accounts for roughly 85% of all revenue generated by Pokémon’s mobile games.
Mainline Switch Titles Take Second Place
Sharing second place are Pokémon Sword & Shield (2019) and Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (2022), both with estimated revenues of $1.6 billion.
These Nintendo Switch entries pushed the franchise further into open-world and free-roam territory. While both generations faced criticism — particularly around technical performance at launch — post-release updates and DLC expansions helped reshape player sentiment over time.
The Classics Still Perform
In third place are the original generation one titles: Pokémon Red / Green / Blue, which brought in an estimated $1.27 billion. First released in Japan in 1996 before expanding worldwide in 1998, these Game Boy classics introduced players to Kanto and laid the foundation for one of gaming’s biggest franchises.
Pokémon Gold & Silver take fourth place with $1.01 billion. Released for the Game Boy Color in 1999, they were the first entries to feature two regions — Johto and Kanto — and introduced iconic box-art legendaries Ho-Oh and Lugia.
Multiple Titles Tie for Fifth
Fifth place sees a three-way tie at $953 million between:
- Pokémon X & Y (3DS)
- Pokémon Yellow
- Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee
Each of these titles represented important transitions for the franchise — from the leap into 3D on 3DS to anime-inspired storytelling and the simplified catching mechanics inspired by GO.
Full Top 10 Highest-Grossing Pokémon Games
| Rank | Title | Year | Platform | Gross Revenue ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pokémon GO | 2016 | iOS / Android | 9,811,000,000 |
| =2 | Pokémon Sword & Shield | 2019 | Switch | 1,600,000,000 |
| =2 | Pokémon Scarlet & Violet | 2022 | Switch | 1,600,000,000 |
| 3 | Pokémon Red / Green / Blue | 1996 | Game Boy | 1,271,000,000 |
| 4 | Pokémon Gold & Silver | 1999 | Game Boy Color | 1,016,000,000 |
| =5 | Pokémon X & Y | 2013 | 3DS | 953,000,000 |
| =5 | Pokémon Yellow | 1998 | Game Boy | 953,000,000 |
| =5 | Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee | 2018 | Switch | 953,000,000 |
| 6 | Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl | 2021 | Switch | 903,000,000 |
| 7 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Switch | 900,000,000 |
| 8 | Pokémon Sun & Moon | 2016 | 3DS | 879,000,000 |
| 9 | Pokémon Diamond & Pearl | 2006 | DS | 778,000,000 |
| 10 | Pokémon Legends: Z-A | 2025 | Switch / Switch 2 | 770,000,000 |
The Lowest Performer
At the opposite end of the scale, Pokémon Rumble U ranks as the lowest-performing title in the franchise, with revenue estimated at just $210,000.
Franchise Revenue Beyond Games
Al Alof, CEO of ChicksX, commented on the broader financial picture:
“The bulk of revenue for the Pokémon franchise comes from the trading card game, which brings more than $30 billion. However, the franchise is an ecosystem of its own where game sales drive card sales.
The mainline series of games brings in a total estimated revenue of $17 billion, and the free-to-play mobile games $11 billion. Looking at these figures, we can see that Pokémon GO alone is responsible for 85% of mobile game revenue.
What’s interesting is the high revenue for the original Game Boy games. With the 30th anniversary of the franchise this year and the news that FireRed & LeafGreen are being released on the Switch and Switch 2 consoles, it’s clear that fans love visiting the very first games despite their age showing when compared to newer entries.”
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