Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen cost $20 a pop, but that hasn't stopped them from dominating the sales charts

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen has jumped to the top of Nintendo's UK eShop sales chart shortly after their pre-orders went live. As it stands right now, the reissues of the classic Pokémon RPGs will be some of the best-selling Switch titles this late winter, despite their price tags previously raising some eyebrows among fans.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have been available for pre-order since February 20, when Nintendo and The Pokemon Company formally announced the Switch version of the Game Boy Advanced-era remakes of Pokemon red and green. The games will launch on February 27, in line with Pokemon Day and this year's 30th anniversary. They are $19.99 a pop.

Togepi over Pokemon FireRed city exploration screenshot

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Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen enjoy strong pre-sale momentum

Four days after pre-orders went live, both games appear to be enjoying strong commercial momentum, with the UK eShop charting Pokemon FireRed and Leaf green as the country's two best-selling Switch titles. The early spike is particularly notable as the two versions compete not only with each other, but with perennial eShop mainstays such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Minecraft, Nintendo Switch Sportand Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)

The pre-release momentum is especially significant given the vocal pushback on social media over the pricing of the upcoming re-releases. While some fans argue that $20 is too much for a 20-year-old game, those opinions seem to be in the minority, considering Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen tops the eShop sales charts in one of Europe's largest gaming markets. Time will tell how the Switch versions of the GBA remakes perform in the long run, but their immediate chart position suggests the mainline audience Pokémon at least the nostalgia is big enough to overpower the discourse of sticker shock at launch.

Online discussion suggests that some fans who pre-ordered both games were pleasantly surprised that both Pokemon FireRed and Leaf green are available for standalone purchase at all. For years before their announcement, many had expected Nintendo to tie in some re-release of the first two Pokémon RPG to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription, as it has done with most of its classic titles that have made it to the eShop. The company indirectly acknowledged these expectations in a recently published FAQ, which describes Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen as a special case it thought it “would be fun” to bring back as standalone releases.

Nintendo eShop UK Charts as of 24 February 2026

Pokemon FireRed version
Pokemon LeafGreen version
Minecraft
Pokemon Legends: ZA
Nintendo Switch Sport
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Super Mario Party Jamboree
EA Sports FC 26
It takes two

Another possible reason why they won't be available via Nintendo Switch Online is that the games lack online play. While the re-releases will support multiplayer combat and trading as in the originals, this will be limited to locally connected consoles. Pokemon Home support was initially confirmed through the game's eShop listings before the reference was removed. Based on recent releases, Pokemon Home integration will likely be added after launch. The most likely reason this feature has historically been added after launch is because Game Freak is not responsible for it. Instead, Pokemon Home is being developed solely by ILCA, a Tokyo-based company that also handled 2021 Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remakes.

With Fire red and Leaf green pre-orders are taking off, the Pokémon franchise now holds three of the top ten spots on the UK eShop bestseller list, where Pokemon Legends: ZA is still in fourth place. The rest of the chart is largely made up of evergreen titles, with EA Sports FC 26 the latest release among them. Beyond the launch of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreenFebruary 27 will also see The Pokemon Company host a special Pokemon Presents presentation marking the franchise's 30th anniversary. The event is expected to provide new details about its near-term plans, potentially including the official announcement of Game Freak's Generation 10 RPGs.