Just how popular is Pokémon? For most gamers, this monster-catching franchise is more than just comfort food; it’s iconic. With each new generation, the brand continues to evolve without losing momentum. From video games and anime to theatrical films and trading cards that have now become a sought-after commodity, Pokémon‘s presence is everywhere. And newly released data offers a clearer picture of the franchise’s sheer scale.
Pokémon has just published updated statistics as of March 2025, highlighting how massive the Nintendo-affiliated franchise has become. To start, in terms of games, over 489 million units of software have been officially distributed to date.
This figure includes every title released since the franchise began, although no breakdown was provided to clarify which specific games are counted. Obviously, we are counting the games that started it all on the Gameboy, all the way until more modern releases. But it is unclear if it only applies to mainline games or includes spinoffs and offshoots as well, like Pokémon Snap. Does Pokémon GO even count?
Even more astonishing is Pokémon’s dominance in the trading card game (TCG) space. According to the same shared data, the franchise has printed over 75 billion cards to date. The TCG is now viewed by many not only as a game but also as a form of investment, with rare cards fetching high prices in the collector market. These cards are available in at least 90 different countries and have been localised into 16 languages, emphasising the global reach of the brand.
With numerous projects in development, including the highly anticipated Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which is expected to launch alongside the Nintendo Switch 2, the franchise shows no signs of slowing down. It’s a brand positioned not just to endure but to thrive across multiple generations to come, and generations of trainers are the proof.
